BOARD OF CORRECTIONS MEMBER - Linda Neal
James Crabtree Correctional Center (JCCC)
James Crabtree Correctional Center Recruitment
Oklahoma’s Correctional Education Association 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Employee to Receive PEP Award
Poker Run hosted by Hillside Community Correcti ons Center - August 15, 2009
Welcome, to the now quarterly version of Inside Corrections. As many of you are aware the department has cut back expenses in many areas to include publications. Director’s updates will continue to advise you on how the department has responded to each round of budget reductions mandated by revenue shortfalls. This article is being written in the first week of October and another shortfall is expected to be announced next week. Probation and parole services are a very appropriate theme for this version of Inside Corrections. In all states the vast majority of offenders are under community supervision. So even though much public and political interest is directed toward institutional corrections, probation and parole is an integral partner in the overall operations and success of our agency. The largest number of prison receptions in most states comes from probation and parole violators whether they are from technical violations that result in revocation or receiving new charges while on supervision. With the advent and implementation of evidenced based supervision Oklahoma has been able to be a national leader in reducing new prison receptions from the aforementioned revocations. California has the highest revocation rate at 60%. The average for states is around 36%. Our sex offender community supervision containment model has been a key contributor and is a good example of providing optimal public safety through community supervision. Another advantage of our probation and parole system is that it is totally integrated under the Department of Corrections which allows for a one file system, the same automated off ender management system, shared resources and a continuation of services as off enders enter and leave our system. The shared resources are extremely valuable during these recessionary times. Accolades go out to all who work in probation and parole as job demands increase and resources become more limited. Their ability to work in grey areas and make many interpretive decisions will become more valuable to the overall agency.
BOARD OF CORRECTIONS MEMBER - Linda Neal
Linda Neal was born in Elk City, Oklahoma, and lived there until graduating from high school. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. In 1974 Linda married Larry Neal in Lawton where they now reside and own the J.T. Neal Insurance Agency. She is a member of Centenary United Methodist Church where she has worked with several children programs, sings in the choir and serves on the Administrative Board. Linda has volunteered in many ways, serving on the boards of Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, American Cancer Society, Lawton Junior Service League, Teen Court, Lawton Country Club, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, Lawton Public Schools Foundation and Parent Teacher Association. Additionally, she is an active member of P.E.O., a philanthropic women’s organization, serving as State President in 2005-2006. She is presently chairman of the Lawton/ Ft. Sill United Way Campaign. Linda is the mother of three children: Lori Bowman, federal government aff airs for Hospira; Lindsay Neal, pharmaceutical sales for Sanofi Aventis; and Lane Neal, Assistant District Attorney for Oklahoma County. Linda’s favorite activities are needle pointing, reading, knitting, playing the piano, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Lexington Assessment and Reception Center’s Friends For Folks Coordinator Places in the Disc Dog World Championship Competition
Lee Fairchild, a case manager/Friends For Folks coordinator, qualified and recently competed in the Disc Dog World Championships held in Chattanooga, Tennessee on September 26 – 27, 2009. Dogs and handlers from the USA, Canada, Hungary, Germany and Japan competed. In order to qualify a handler and dog team must place in the top four of their respective region. Lee qualifi ed with two dogs. His dog Dora, a three year old Australian Shepherd, qualifi ed in the Distance Accuracy portion of the competition which means that the further a handler throws a frisbee the more points are garnered up to 50 yards. Lee and Dora placed 14th in this division. Lee and his other dog, Gracie, qualifi ed in two events. She is a small dog (under 16 inches) so she qualifi ed to compete in the Micro-Dog category and was also qualifi ed for Open/Expert, which includes any size dog. Gracie and Lee competed in Freestyle which meant the teams had two minutes of time to do a series of tricks and vaults with the frisbee. Gracie placed 14th in the Open/ Expert division and was 4th in the world in the Micro Dog division. This was the highest placing in the South-Central region by any of the competitors. Al Ericson from San Diego, California won the division followed by Japan, Germany and then Lee from the USA.
CADET GRADUATION – AUGUST 13, 2009
Th e Correctional Training Academy in Wilburton hosted a graduation ceremony on August 13, 2009 for Correctional Officer Cadet Class W070609. Lenora Hudson, Deputy Warden, John Lilley Correctional Center, was the graduation speaker. The 20 cadets in this class successfully completed the required 240 hours of pre-service instruction. Nine different facilities ranging from maximum security to community security had students in W070609. The staff of the Correctional Training Academy in Wilburton would like to commend the class of W070609 on a job well done and wish them the best of luck in their careers with DOC.
AWARD RECIPIENTS Kara Painter Oklahoma State Penitentiary Academic Award
David Brush Union City CCC Class Speaker
Eric Sofi an Dick Conner CC Outstanding Performance
CLEET GRADUATION – OCTOBER 6, 2009 Th e Correctional Training Academy in Wilburton hosted a graduation ceremony on October 6, 2009 for CLEET Basic Academy WC062209. Kendall Ballew, Chief Agent of the Fugitive/Warrants Unit and Southeastern Region Investigations Supervisor, was the graduation speaker. Th e 26 correctional offi cers and 16 probation & parole offi cers in this class successfully completed the required 600 hours of instruction. One Correctional Offi cer completed the 100 hour refresher course. Twenty-two diff erent facilities and districts ranging in security level from maximum security to community security had students in WC062209. Th e staff of the Correctional Training Academy would like to commend the Class of WC062209 on a job well done and wish them the best of luck in their careers with DOC.
AWARD RECIPIENTS Jody Randall Central District CC Academic Award
Monica Alexander Mack Alford CC Class Speaker
David Spears Oklahoma State Penitentiary Outstanding Performance Custody Control
Markus Woods Oklahoma State Penitentiary Outstanding Performance Firearms
James Crabtree Correctional Center (JCCC) Auto Mechanics Shop Gives Back to the Community
In an effort to help support area volunteer fire departments, JCCC has extended a helping hand by offering the services/labor of offenders in the auto mechanics department. With the fire departments supplying all the necessary materials, the offenders along with their supervisors, Bryon Mathis, Auto Mechanics Supervisor, and Barney Laird, Maintenance Supervisor, set about restoring these vehicles. #1 - Three vehicles belonging to the Helena Fire Department. #2 (before and after) - This 1933 Ford Model A with the original flathead four cylinder engine belongs to the Aline Volunteer Fire Department. The wood flooring is the original factory flooring that was re-furbished. This firetruck has 1,232 original miles on it and was driven to the shop. Not pictured is a fire truck for the Goltry Volunteer Fire Department which was also restored by the JCCC Auto Mechanics Shop.
James Crabtree Correctional Center Recruitment and Retention Task Force Wins Big at OK Quality Team Day
JCCC’s team received a Governor’s
Commendation for Excellence
(44 out of the 65 teams attending
received this award). Th e team was
further honored to receive the Extra
Mile Specialty Award (only fi ve teams
received specialty awards), so this
was a huge thrill for the team. Th e
team received these awards for their
eff orts in improving recruitment and
reducing turnover. Th e Task Force
was formed in June 2006. Th eir goals
were, and continue to be, streamlining
the recruitment and hiring process
and improving retention. Th ey
tackled the problem quite aggressively.
All committee members attended
many diff erent community events
on their own time in an eff ort
to create an awareness of the
employment opportunities at JCCC.
Representatives manned booths at
tractor pulls, threshing bees, county
fairs, Oktoberfests, birding and cheese
festivals, and other various locales.
After each event, they met to discuss
the results, and over time focused on
those venues that served them best.
Th ey continue to attend every job fair
available in the region.
Th e Task Force is committed to“thinking outside of the box” in
order
to maximize our assets. Some of their
most successful eff orts include:
• Th ey have designed a recruitment
post card, which describes the steps
applicants must take in order to be
considered for employment. Th e
back of the card briefl y describes state
benefi ts as well as available positions at
JCCC. All members of the task force,
as well as many other staff members,
carry these cards at all times. Th ey have
distributed these cards while shopping,
fi lling up at the pump, at their children’s
ball games, and many other places.
• Th ey maintain a supply of recruitment
packets for distribution to applicants.
Th e packet contains information about
the state application process, our
internal application and background
investigation process, job descriptions,
and state benefi ts.
• Observation at job fairs showed that
the booths off ering giveaways were more
popular. Since the Task Force has no
budget to speak of, they have held fundraisers
in order to purchase items for
distribution to potential applicants at
job fairs. Th eir fi rst fund-raiser, a silent
auction, raised $222, which allowed
them to purchase 550 pens imprinted
with JCCC’s contact information.
Th ey have held a second silent auction,
which had similar good results, and will
employ other means of fund-raising in
order to continue the booth giveaway
program. An added bonus of the silent
auctions is the positive interaction
between staff members. Highly
prized items will spark good-natured
competition in bidding, which benefi ts
the Task Force fi nancially.
• Th e Task Force designed a PowerPoint
presentation specifi cally targeting
positions available at JCCC. Th is eyecatching
video also highlights various
departments at JCCC and describes in
detail the benefi ts available to staff . Th e
video is updated continuously to refl ect
an accurate picture of our hiring needs.
Th e team is proud that this video
won an Honorable Mention in the
Department of Corrections recent
contest for recruitment ideas.
In addition to the activities listed above,
the Task Force has developed a strong
partnership with the Enid Oklahoma
Employment Securities Commission
(OESC) offi ces. Members of the Task
Force hold a “mini” job fair at the
OESC offi ce on the fi rst Monday of
each month. Joy Blakely and Barbara
Ewert of OESC have been especially
helpful in determining the best times
for these monthly events. Th ey reported
that the fi rst of the month sees more
traffi c in their offi ce, and Mondays are
the most active day of the week. Th ese
monthly job fairs have provided the
Task Force an opportunity to meet
directly with applicants, which is more
successful than impersonal phone
conversations or mailings. Another
element of their partnership with
OESC has been the opportunity to
present recruitment information at
OESC’s mandatory Unemployment
Orientation Training, usually once a
month. Th e team is currently workingwith OESC to design future
workshops spotlighting employment
opportunities at JCCC.
Th e Task Force Chair maintains
membership on the North Central
Oklahoma Workforce Initiative
Board (NCOWIB). Th is has been
invaluable in terms of networking
and awareness of job fairs. Th e
NCOWIB sponsors the Chair’s
attendance at the annual National
Association of Workforce Boards
Forum in Washington, DC.
Information from those meetings
has enhanced the Task Force’s
eff orts to target specifi c groups of
applicants.
Th e Task Force has designed a
bulletin board spotlighting new
staff members and the current
Employee of the Month. Th ey also
publish a monthly facility newsletter
consisting ONLY of upbeat news
about the staff and the facility as a
whole. Th eir philosophy is based on
the concept that developing a sense
of family will increase employee
loyalty, which in turn improves
retention.
RETENTION
Turnover rates for the critical security positions and the facility as a
whole dropped signifi cantly from 2006 through 2008. Turnover in
the security positions fell from 38% in 2006 to a steady 12% in both
2007 and 2008. Th e overall facility turnover rate dropped from 23% in
2006 to 11% in 2007, and then to 9% in 2008. Exits from the facility
dropped from 22 in 2006 to 19 in both 2007 and 2008.
In terms of savings to the facility, turnover costs for entry-level
correctional offi cers alone have dropped from $144,649 in 2006 to
$135,005 in 2007, resulting in a savings of $9644. Turnover costs
dipped signifi cantly between 2007 and 2008, dropping from the
$135,005 to $106,076, resulting in a savings of $28,929 in one year.
Finally, the JCCC Recruitment Task Force was specifi cally mentioned
in the recent DOC effi ciency audit as being “as impressive as any
in the
state.” Th e Task Force was also recognized by the Department for its
exceptional work when all members were called to Oklahoma City to
meet with high level managers to discuss all facets of our recruitment
and retention program.
RECRUITMENT
E-lists are the offi cial lists of qualifi ed
applicants supplied to all agencies by
the Offi ce of Personnel Management.
Applicants on these E-lists increased
from only three in both March and
April 2008 to eight in October, nine in
December, and ten in January 2009.
Area unemployment dropped to 3%
in late 2007-early 2008; rates hovered
from 3% to just above 4% for the entire
time span of 2006 through late 2008.
Rates are approaching 5% now, but
they are still at least two full percentage
points below the national average. In
spite of unemployment rates this low,
JCCC increased new hires from 23 in
2007 to 26 in 2008. New hires for
2009 reached seven by mid-February,
which was approximately one per week,
until the hiring freeze was put in place.
Th e applicant packet described above
has allowed JCCC to streamline
the process for most applicants.
Backgrounds are usually completed
prior to the applicants’ names appearing
on OPM’s E-lists, reducing hiring
time by up to two weeks. In some
situations, JCCC hired an applicant
on a temporary basis while the offi cial
process continues. When the e-list
was published, the employee’s status
automatically changed from temporary
to permanent. JCCC has used this
particular process since 2007. Out of
ten temporary hires, only one failed to
attain permanent status.
Oklahoma’s Correctional Education Association
2009-2010 Teacher of the Year
In 1987, Ida Doyle graduated from
Red Rock High School located
in northern Oklahoma and went
on to attend Northwestern Oklahoma
State University, where she received a
Bachelor Degree in Education in 1992.
Ms. Doyle began her teaching career at
Boise City Public School (BCPS) in the
fall of 1992, teaching biology, physical
science, and physical education.
She was also the head coach for all
women’s sports (grades 7-12) while
at BCPS. In 1993, she was hired as
the head women’s coach and health
teacher at Woodland Public School.
She remained there until September
1996, at which time, she accepted the
position of correctional offi cer with
the Dick Conner Correctional Center
(DCCC). She continued working
as a correctional offi cer until August
1998, when she accepted a correctional
teacher position at the facility.
While teaching fulltime and raising
two sons, Ms. Doyle returned to college
and received a Master’s Degree in
Human Relations from the University
of Oklahoma in 2002.
Ms. Doyle currently provides literacy,
ABE, and GED classes, oversees the
leisure library, teaches life skills at
the minimum security unit, and is
an instructor for the facility teaching
Cultural Diversity. She has been the
College Coordinator for the facility
since 2007. Th rough her eff orts,
DCCC’s college program has grown
and fl ourished.
Ms. Doyle stays active in her community
by volunteering as a coach in baseball
and basketball youth programs (for the
last ten years).
Ms. Doyle believes education is a lifelong
process and sees it as a positive
infl uence in turning people’s lives
around.
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Employee to Receive PEP Award
It was recently announced that a Department of Corrections employee, Robert
Jarrett, Principal, Education/Lexington Assessment
and Reception Center (LARC), was awarded a monetary award through the Productivity
Enhancement Program (PEP).
Mr. Jarrett researched the eligibility of the agency’s education unit
to receive the educational contract discount on the purchase of
Microsoft Offi ce software. He completed the paperwork to secure this designation
and then ordered the software. Th is resulted
in saving the agency $18,980 the fi rst year of implementation.
Th e legislatively mandated Incentive Awards for State Employees Committee
recently approved a cash award of $4,745 (25% of
the fi rst year savings) for Mr. Jarrett. He will be honored during a ceremony
at the State Capitol, in the Governor’s offi ce, at 3:30
p.m. on October 28, 2009.
Congratulations to Mr. Robert Jarrett on his PEP award!
If you would like further information on the Productivity Enhancement Program,
please refer to OP-110222, entitled, “Employee
Productivity Enhancement Program.”
Robert (Bob) Jarrett was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma and lived his fi rst six
years in a very
small lease house at Quay, an oil fi eld town just north of Yale. Th e house
where his family lived
had a tin roof and there was no running water.
Bob’s family moved to Drumright where he graduated from high school.
He was active in
all sports, but was profi cient enough in basketball to earn a full four
year scholarship to New
Mexico State University. Th ere he earned a teacher’s certifi cate.
After earning a Ph.D at Salt
Lake City he worked as the only assistant principal at Grand Junction, Colorado,
the largest
high school between Denver and Salt Lake City.
Moving back to Oklahoma in October of 1983, Bob went to work for the Oklahoma
Department of Corrections. He spent his fi rst 19 years as the principal
at LARC before becoming
appointed the regional principal for LARC, Joseph Harp Correctional Center
(CC), and John
Lilley CC. He was transferred to Mabel Bassett CC just before their move
to McLoud and recently transferred back to LARC
and Joseph Harp CC as site administrator.
Favorite parts of Bob’s job are seeing students progress as students
and on the outside after discharge, seeing teachers grow and
watch as they come very, very profi cient, and meeting and getting to know
people throughout the state. Bob states that he has
been blessed with many great teachers while working for the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections and he hopes that he had a
hand in that process.
Bob has had many opportunities to contribute in unusual ways. He was in the
original meeting (three men in a car on the way to
the Oklahoma State Reformatory) discussing the addition of computers as tools
for teaching; he organized the fi rst CSI class in
a state prison at Mabel Bassett CC (CSI is a program to either repair or
replace damaged or destroyed pathways in the brain and
is taught by an inmate); and he drew the preliminary plans for an education
and the wellness center at LARC, and the education
centers at Mabel Bassett CC and Joseph Harp CC.
Oklahoma State Reformatory
One Hundred Years - 1909 – 2009
Kate Barnard, Commissioner
of Charities
and Corrections,
reported that from
1905 to 1908, 60 boys,
many under 16 years of age,
had been sent to the Lansing
Penitentiary in Kansas. Th is
prompted Barnard and fellow
reformers to make a case
for a state reformatory. She
articulated the need for such
an institution in her annual
reports to the governor and
legislature.
Samuel Flourney, later to
become the fi rst warden of
the reformatory, in a letter
to Governor Haskell dated
December 12, 1909, complained
that southwestern
Oklahoma was being discriminated
against for not getting
a reformatory and requested a
$100,000 appropriation. Th e
proposed reformatory became
a political issue.
So, the Oklahoma State Reformatory
was established by
an act of the legislature in
March 1909, with an initial
appropriation of $500,000.
Th e temporary quarters (built
south of the “Wildcat” mountain)
were completed, and the
fi rst 60 inmates were received
from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary
on April 22, 1910.
Th e number was supplemented
by 50 more inmates in
May 1910; In July 1910, 100
black prisoners were transferred
from McAlester for
public roadwork in Washita
County. Two hundred more
prisoners were transferred on
March 18, 1911, of which
100 were assigned to public
roadwork in Caddo County.
Clyde A. Reed was appointed
warden on September 12,
1910. Construction of the
main facility began in 1911
and was completed in 1914.
Th e temporary quarters were
destroyed by fi re that same
year.
To briefl y recap, Kate Barnard,
during her short seven
years (1907-1914) as commissioner, founded, built,
and put in operation both the
penitentiary and the reformatory.
She had lofty, but realistic
goals for the institutions,
gave personal attention to the
inmates herself, and expected
the staff to do the same.
While the Governor and the
legislators wanted the institutions
to be not only self-sufficient, but also revenue earners
for the state, Kate wanted
them to reform inmates that
would be good citizens upon
release from prison.
Kate Barnard was succeeded
by William D. Matthews
(1914-1922), who submitted
very skimpy biennial reports
to the Governor with
barely a page of population
statistics on each of the two
institutions. A reader gets the
impression that the institutions
were passing through
some phase of consolidation,
and the administrations were
maintaining status quo. One
could clearly observe that
the reformers had somewhat
weakened in the absence of
Kate Barnard. Governor
Robert L. Williams (1915-
1919), in his message to the
legislature in 1917, was concerned
about the economic
well-being of the facility, but
not its rehabilitative role,
when he said, “Th e reformatory
of Granite is a penitentiary
just as much so as the prison
at McAlester.” He made no
distinction between the penitentiary
and the reformatory.
Governor Williams clearly
wanted to use the reformatory
as a second penitentiary.
He wanted a warden to be a
businessman. Making use of
the state-owned mountain
of granite and the reformatory’s
captive labor pool, he
negotiated a contract with the
Rock Island Railroad Company.
Th e railroad exchanged
a small rock crusher (capable
of 80 yards a day) for 1200
carloads of rough rock for its
track beds.
With this contract, the Governor
claimed, “Now the reformatory
is self-sustaining.”
Warden Boone Williams
reported on three years of
achievement from September
1, 1915 to September 1,
1918, claiming enlargement
and improvement of the prison
gin machine, dairy barn,
and power house machinery.
He also reported the building
of a 20,000 bushel granary,
east cell house (two-thirds
completed), and broom factory.
To assist the government
in its aid to World War I, the
institution supplied building
materials to the Aviation Field
at Fort Sill.
In the area of rehabilitation,
it was reported
that 75 to 80 percent of the
inmates released from the institution
had not returned to
criminal life (the annual reports
often recognized their
reformation role).
Th e east cell house was completed
in 1918 with four levels.
Th e fourth level, being a
relatively open area since construction,
has been utilized
for a multitude of purposes
ranging from classrooms to
open dormitory. Th e remaining
fl oors have cells facing
north and south in a back-toback
confi guration. Each individual
cell was constructed
with open fronts (bars only)
as opposed to the solid steel
plate type used in the west
cell house. Each cell was constructed
ten feet fi ve inches
by seven feet, providing 73.5
square feet per cell with four
bunks to each cell, thus adding
290 beds to the capacity
of the institution. By year’s
end, the institution bed count
had climbed to 658.
Th e next few years were fortunate
for the reformatory as
it moved closer to its reformative
ideal.
Governor James B.
Robertson (1919-1923) made
a consistent and honest eff ort
to run the institution as a reformatory.
He appointed as
warden, Dr. George A. Waters,
a highly respected and
successful farmer and dentist.
Waters immediately made
plans to travel east to study
modern methods of organizing
and conducting reformatory
work. He sent a requisition
to the Board of Public
Aff airs for 500 books as the
nucleus for a general library.
He also initiated a public
call for book donations from
charitable organizations.
Governor Robertson mailed
a letter to all judges of the
district courts in the state: “Hereafter no prisoner will
be confi ned at Granite who
is over the age of 23 years, or who has heretofore been
committed for two or three
off enses, or who is sentenced
for more than ten years. All
such prisoners must be sent
to McAlester.”
Th at was a major step in
diff erentiating the role of a
reformatory from that of a
penitentiary. It is important
to mention here that Mabel
Bassett replaced William
Matthews as Commissioner
of Charities and Corrections,
and she remained in that position
for a long term of 24
years, from 1922-1946.
Another contribution of
Warden George Waters was
the training of inmates in
scientifi c agriculture. He
planned to establish experimental
seed farms and specialized
husbandry for cattle,
sheep, and hogs. Th e Agricultural
and Mechanical College
at Stillwater provided
technical aid.
Very unfortunately, with
the change in administration,
the Robertson/Waters
team was out, and Governor
C. Walton was elected
in 1923. During Walton’s
short tenure as Governor,
there was massive corruption
at all levels, which led to his
impeachment. Some prisoners
received clemency before
they even arrived at the state
prison.
Not only were all the
constructive projects started
at the reformatory hard hit,
but the inventories of some
reformatory shops were ruthlessly
plundered.
Dr. George
Waters was reappointed as
warden, and he resumed
offi ce in 1924 to clear up
the mess. On resumption
of offi ce, Dr. George Waters
found that many of the
programs he had instituted
were eliminated. Many fi ne
instructors from the bakery,
kitchen, farm, tannery, and
shoe shop had been replaced
by incompetent ones. Dr.
Waters again set the house in
order and increased production.
In December 1925,
there were 591 inmates, all
usefully occupied in tannery,
carpentry, blacksmithing,
stone masonry, tailoring,
cooking, baking, tinning, or
plumbing. Despite all of his
achievements, he was modest
in claims. Talking about the
farm, he reported in his annual
report, “Th e produce is
not as good as I would have
liked it to be, but it represents
our very best eff ort.”
Warden
J. J. Savage, in his Annual
Report of the Oklahoma
State Reformatory (OSR),
reported a population of 606
prisoners on December 13,
1926, and proudly claimed
that all of them were working(no idleness). Many of them
were learning a trade (bakery,
cooking, plumbing, cleaners
and stone masons) going
to school for half a day, and
working for the other half of
the day. Warden Savage recommended
the introduction
of an adequate wage system
and wanted to transfer the
institution into a REAL REFORMATORY.
He also recommended
the establishment
of a parole board with the
head of each penal institution
as members of the board.
In
1927, Mrs. George A. Waters
became the warden and carried
on the work of her able
husband. She focused mainly
on educational and religious
programs for prisoners. In
order to employ all prisoners,
she leased several hundred
acres of land (OSR already
had 1400 acres of land in
1927). At the end of 1928,
OSR’s population shot up to
782 (an increase of 176 prisoners
in one year), constituted
of mostly property off enders,
with 61 fowl thieves. Th ere
were four deaths in 1928, two
of which were caused by accidents
at the rock crusher.
Mrs. George Waters, often
distinguished as the fi rst and
only female warden of a large
state reformatory for males,
proved herself very popular
both locally and nationally.
On October 8, 1930, Governor
W. J. Holloway appointed
Mrs. Waters as his
personal representative, and
delegate from Oklahoma, to
attend the annual meeting
of the American Prison Congress
in Louisville, Kentucky.
She was elected to the board
of directors of the National
Prison Organization. Upon
Mrs. Waters return home,
she was honored by both the
staff and citizens of Granite,
Oklahoma. Mrs. Waters was
considered one of the most
convincing women speakers
in the country. She was
notifi ed by the Democratic
National Committee in September,
1932, that she had
been placed on the list of
speakers to tour the country.
Her speech, seconding
the nomination of Governor
Murray for President, was
given wide publicity, and
many who heard it declared it
the best speech delivery at the
1932 National Democratic
Convention in Chicago. Th e
following year, Warden Mrs.
George A. Waters was elected
as the vice-president of the
National Prison Association
at its annual meeting in Atlantic
City, New Jersey, in
October, 1933.
Mrs. Waters was very enthusiastic about making OSR
a model reformatory, and
she loved her “boys” who returned
her love with respect
(OSR inmates were mostly
referred to as “boys”). She
tried to “make the prison as
normal as home.” Reverend
E. W. Nagel, a noted social
worker from St. Louis, spent
a week at the reformatory
and praised OSR for its correctional
eff orts. After conversing
with the boys in the
cells, he remarked that it was
the “lack of love in their families
which was responsible for
their trouble.” Mrs. Waters
was called “an ideal mother
not only to her own children,
but to every “boy” who had
been under her supervision
in the reformatory.” Th ese
words were echoed repeatedly
at a warm banquet given
by the residents of Granite
on January 17, 1935, to celebrate
Mrs. Waters’ 13 year
residency in Granite as a wife,
mother, and warden. To add
to her several accomplishments,
she was also appointed
to Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame.
While to all appearances,
things were going all right
for Mrs. Waters, who had
worked with three Governors,
there was some trouble brewing
in the minds of some inmates.
Th ese inmates mailed
a complaint to the authorities
alleging cruel treatment at
the hands of some staff members.
While an investigation
against Mrs. Waters’ administration
was being conducted
by the State Board of Public
Aff airs, there came stunning
news of a massive prison
break on February 18, 1935
(Th e Granite Enterprise, October
10, 1930; October 23,
1931; September 23, 1932).
A SPECTACULAR
PRISON BREAK AT
GRANITE
Prison breaks, prison riots,
and prison protests are often
characterized by their suddenness,
unpredictability, and
unexpected course of developments.
Th e prison staff
is often caught unaware and
unprepared. All of the above
was true of the prison break
at Granite, which occurred
on February 17, 1935, soon
after Sunday lunch. As many
as 31 inmates made a bid for
freedom in this daring escape.
However, eight of them surrendered
in the front yard
of the institution after being
peppered with a blast of small
shot from a shotgun in the
hands of Deputy Warden M.
T. Gallion. Two returned voluntarily,
and 18 were at large
until the following day.
Th e inmates conspiring to
break had, somehow, managed
to smuggle two guns,
which they used to threaten
Offi cer Tom Denton, asking
him to unlock the prison
doors, and later they shot
down Peter Jones, the guard
on the front tower. Gathering
a number of women and
children visitors in front of
them, the convicts rushed
down the front steps. Piling
in two cars in front of the institution,
20 of the men fl ed
east. Later, they confi scated
other cars and continued the
fl ight. On Monday morning,
they forced a farm housewife
to prepare breakfast for them
and also a lunch to take with
them. A house was also burglarized
at Elk City Sunday
night.
When Mrs. Waters entered
the prison, she found all the
doors open and six offi cers
locked in the cells. Th en
Mrs. Waters went up the
prison steps, and the inmates
saw her. Every hat went off
to Mrs. Waters, which greatly
encouraged her. Her two
sons, Victor Waters, county
attorney of Greer County,
and Dr. C. B. Waters, an intern
at St. Anthony’s Hospital
in Oklahoma City, hurried
to Granite to be available to
their mother.
Fortuitously, Warden Waters’
son, Dr. C. B. Waters, attended
the wounded prisoners.
All of the Waters applied their
diff erent skills to serve the reformatory
“boys” in various
ways. Th e slain guard’s wife,
Mrs. Peter Jones, also worked
in the reformatory and saw
her husband shot. A favorite
of the inmates, to most
she was familiarly known as
“Mother.” Many of them had
helped her at her work in the
guard kitchen. Similarly, the
slain guard was addressed as
“Uncle Pete.” Apparently,
there was an atmosphere of
family before the break (Th e
Oklahoma Times, February
18, 1935).
On February 19, 1935, Mrs.
Waters was fi red, and she
was replaced by Sheriff Fred
Hunt. Th at ended the era of
the Waters family for the reformatory.
Th e quarry operation continued
until the mid 1940s.
During the construction stage
a rock crusher was in operation
to provide crushed granite
for road and building materials.
Th e rock crusher was
located on the west side of the
mountain. Th e abandoned
guard tower is still standing
just southwest of the mountain
and silently faces the gaping
scar across the entire west
face of “Wild Cat” mountain. Th e prisoners working at the
quarry operation had to drag
the heavy ball and chains attached
to their ankle. In
addition, they had to carry
a ten pound “double jack”
sledgehammer over their
shoulder. Th e crushed rock
was sold commercially and
shipped by rail to receiving
points throughout the country.
Th e railroad spur, which
allowed for shipping the rock,
also extended into the compound
and was utilized for
the movement of prisoners
as well as bringing in fuel oil
necessary to fi re the boilers of
the prison steam plant. Th e
steam plant furnished heat for
the primary facility, warden’s
and deputy warden’s residences,
and provided raw steam
for the kitchen, laundry, and
electric generator room. Th e
room below the main rotunda,
which is often reported to
have been a solitary confi nement
cell, was actually the
generator room. It still has an
original steel plate door.
In 1947, Lakeside School,
then administered by the City
View Board of Education,
was accredited by the Oklahoma
State Department of
Education; thus, becoming
the fi rst fully accredited K-12
school to be operated within
the confi nes of an adult penal
institution in the United
States (it was also the fi rst racially
integrated school in the
state, starting in 1949).
In the News and Views published
in the early 1950s, the
reformatory school was greatly
promoted by the then warden,
Joe Harp. Th e warden
used the institution’s newspaper
as a vehicle to address the
inmates and to impress upon
them the merits of education.
In looking over the monthly
school progress reports, he
found that about 20 percent
of the boys were doing excellent
work, another 20 percent
put in no eff ort, and the remaining
60 percent were doing
average work. Th e record
showed that the school had
an average daily attendance of
340 in May 1950.
In 1954, the 127 foot smokestack
was dismantled when it
was no longer needed because
of the new power plant. Th e
chimney weighed 300 tons
and was approximately 35 feet
around the base (OSR News
and Views, June, 1954).
Warden Joe Harp took comfort
in the fact that OSR
did not have the problem of
inmate idleness as the Oklahoma
State Penitentiary had.
Even then he was always
trying to expand vocational
trades and educational programs
(OSR News and Views,
May 1954). Two new school
rooms and one library room
were added in October 1953.
Warden Joe Harp was elected
as fi rst vice president of the
Southern States Prison Association
at the 12th Annual
Conference in Dallas (OSR
News and Views, June 1953).
In 1974, Western Oklahoma
State College and the Oklahoma
Regents for Higher
Education combined their
eff orts and resources to make
the OSR a pilot project for
the emerging Televised Instruction
System. Western
Oklahoma State College
transmitted classes only to the
Oklahoma State Reformatory,
which gave OSR students
a distinct advantage in planning
their degree programs.
Th e Oklahoma State University
also televised Criminology
and Corrections courses
from 1974 to 1977 for the
Reformatory staff . Dr. Harjit
S. Sandju, professor of sociology
and corrections, off ered
several extension courses in
corrections at Granite in the
evenings.
In 1984, construction of four
new housing units inside the
main prison compound was
completed, and the “old cell
house” was vacated in compliance
with federal court mandates
CLARA WATERS
Clara Waters was the wife of Dr. George
Waters, who was the warden of the Oklahoma
State Reformatory in Granite from 1920-
1926. She had been actively involved in her
husband’s work, so much so that one year
after his death she was named warden of
the reformatory. Th is appointment made
Clara Waters the fi rst female warden in the
United States to head a state prison. She also
is reported to be the fi rst female to head an
all male prison. While serving as warden, she
developed the educational and vocational
training opportunities provided to the young
off enders convicted of felonies and began
the fi rst in-house educational program at
the reformatory. Th is program eventually
evolved into the Lakeside School, the fi rst
fully accredited behind-the walls high school
in the United States. Other accomplishments
included a classifi cation program to
segregate the younger off enders from the
older inmates. In addition, she initiated a
24-hour day medical access program at the
reformatory which later became a required
standard at all correctional facilities
Poker Run hosted by Hillside
Community Correcti ons Center -
August 15, 2009
Approximately $5,400 was raised for the
Women’s Resource Center (WRC) in Norman,
which is a rape crisis and batt ered shelter for
women and their children.
Stati sti cs show that the majority of women
who are incarcerated have been a victi m of
sexual, verbal, physical or mental abuse.
It is the hope of those involved that by
allowing this facility to remain open despite
budget cuts, will bring hope to women and
their families. It was reported by News
Channel 9 that the United Way budget cut the
facility by 44%.
We are ecstati c to announce to our sponsors
the total amount raised, and look forward to a
higher fi gure next year.
6th Annual Special Olympics Poker Run
hosted by Joseph Harp Correctional Center (JHCC)
by Debbie Dorris
On August 22, a beautiful summer morning, bikers
gathered at Fort Th under Harley-Davidson in
anticipation of JHCC’s Sixth Annual Poker Run
for Special Olympics. Participants ranged from non-law
enforcement (or “civilians” as we like to call them) to C.O.’s,
members of the OKC PD, and the OHP.
Soon, two of the athletes arrived to meet and greet and
remind everyone why we were there. Amy Wollmershauser,
whose sports of choice are bocce, basketball, bowling, speed
walking and snowshoe racing (that’s right – snowshoe!) and
Chris Paynter, a weight lifter, made an already beautiful day
brighter.
Meanwhile, at the fi rst stop of the day, Ashley Kohlun,
Global Messenger, was ready to shine her 100 watt smile as
the bikers arrived in Purcell. Apparently, she made quite
an impression with the owners of JP Outfi tters who gave
her a free pink JP Outfi tters shirt. Not to be outdone, Ron
Guthrie (JHCC Unit Manager) allowed her to pick out
a ballcap to match her shirt. She had a great time being
recognized because for the last several years, she has been
the special guest speaker at the JHCC golf tournament. She
enlightens the group about her duties as a Special Olympics
Global Messenger and her sports which include swimming,
bocce, bowling and basketball.
Jonathan Parkhurst (who I think secretly works in a casino)
assisted me at the fourth stop of the day, Harley-Davidson
World. He would spread the cards before each participant
and quip, “Pick a card, any card.” Th ey loved him.
Jonathan’s sport of choice is golfi ng and let me tell you, his
personality alone could beat Tiger Woods any day!
If you ever get a chance to attend a Torch Run fundraiser
or any Special Olympic event where there is an opportunity
to meet these gifted individuals, don’t hesitate. For more
information check out the Oklahoma Special Olympic
website at www.sook.org.
Probation And Parole Upholding The Law With Dignity, While Recognizing The Right Of The Public To Be Safe-guarded From Criminal Activity.
Probation and Parole, the
most poorly documented
segment of the
Oklahoma Department
of Corrections history. Lack of
documentation appears to be due to
the fact that there simply was little to
report.
In a 1912 Commissioner of Charities
and Corrections annual report,
Commissioner Kate Barnard claimed
that the passage of a state parole
system was critical to the success of
the reformatory (OSR)
because some people took
longer to train than others
and release under supervision was
necessary to help the ex-convict to
adjust to freedom. Commissioner
Barnard failed in her attempt to get
the parole system passed.
After an election to the post of
Commissioner of Charities and
Corrections in 1922, Mabel
Bassett submitted penal reform
recommendations to the Legislature.
One of the recommendations was the
authorization of probation services.
In reference to a Legislature
investigation of
the penal system,
a 1929 Report in
House Journal
entry refl ects that
the investigative
committee
recommended
establishment of a
parole system.
It appears that
the Governor had
power to grant
parole, but there was no “system.”
Th ere was little or no accountability.
In 1943, the legislature authorized
a Pardon and Parole Board,
there creating a “system.” But
those granted parole had little
accountability until establishment of
the Division of Probation and Parole
in 1968. Probation and Parole, as
currently known, did not begin to
evolve until the late 1950’s and did
not resemble what it is today until
the late 1960’s.
Governor J. Howard Edmonson
became the fi rst Governor of
Oklahoma to recommend “the
establishment of a Department of
Corrections” responsible for the
entire correctional system. Th e
legislature failed to act upon this
recommendation.
Governor Henry Bellmon’s
administration (1963-1967) again
contracted with an outside agency
to study the penal system and make
recommendations for change. Th is
time the state requested the services
of the National Council on Crime
and Delinquency (NCCD). Th e
NCCD report recommended that
Oklahoma pass a law creating a
state Department of Corrections.
Governor Dewey Bartlett (1967-
1971) supported the concept of a
state Corrections agency and he
urged the legislature to fi nalize the
work of the past four years and
pass the legislation. Th e Oklahoma
Corrections Act was passed on May
8 and became eff ective on July
1, 1967. Th e legislation created
a Department of Corrections
consisting of an appointed State
Board of Corrections and a director
to head the department and its
three divisions of institutions,
inspections, and parole.
Prior to the Corrections Act of
1967, only parole services were
off ered on a statewide basis under
the direction of the Commissioner
of Charities and Corrections.
Th e Division of Probation and
Parole dissolved in 1991 under
a departmental reorganization.
However, in 1996, the DOC
once again reorganized into the
Division of Probation and Parole/
Community Corrections created by
Deputy Director, Kathy Waters.
Reginald Hines was named Deputy
Director in 2005 upon Justin Jones
being named as Director. Mr.
Hines had previously served as the
Assistant Deputy Director, having
transferred to the Division after
his most recent service as warden
at the Lexington Assessment and
Reception Center.
Th e Division of Community
Corrections is comprised of eight
community corrections, fi fteen
community work centers, and six
probation and parole districts.
Th ere are over 27,000 probationers
and 3,600 parolees under the
custody of the Oklahoma
Department of Corrections.
Th e Division also has oversight
responsibilities for nine halfway
houses, providing reentry services
to over 1,200 off enders.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, probation and parole is an
essential part of the justice system; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals uphold the law with
dignity, while recognizing the right
of the public to be safe-guarded from
criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals are responsible for
supervising adult and juvenile off enders
in the community; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals are trained professionals
who provide services and referrals for
off enders; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals work in partnership with
community agencies and groups; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals promote prevention,
intervention and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals provide services, support,
and protection for victims; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals advocate community and
restorative justice; and
WHEREAS, probation and parole
professionals are a true Force for Positive
Change in their communities, and;
Now, Th erefore, Be it Resolved that I ,
Brad Henry, Governor of Oklahoma, do
hereby proclaim July 19-25, 2009 as:
Probation, Parole and
Community Supervision Week
and encourage all citizens to honor these
probation and parole professionals and
to recognize their achievements.
2009 SCOTIA KNOUFF
LINE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Probation and Parole Offi cer Crystal Angelo from
the Oklahoma Department of Corrections was named the 2009 Scotia Knouff
Line Offi cer of the Year. Offi cer Angelo began her career with
the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as a Probation and
Parole Offi cer in 2004, shortly after obtaining a Bachelor's
degree from the University of Oklahoma. Over the last
eighteen months, Probation and Parole Offi cer Angelo has been
actively involved in a multi-jurisdictional caseload study that is
researching the diff erential eff ect of caseload size on outcomes
related to recidivism for medium and high-risk off enders, as well
as the impact of evidence based practices (EBP) on recidivism
outcomes. Th is study, which concluded in April 2009, will
provide correctional agencies nationwide with much needed
data and research analysis. She recently became a member of
the agency's Honor Guard, and is a sign language interpreter for
the department. She was selected as Oklahoma's Probation and
Parole Offi cer of the Year for 2008.
