Corrections_Today_November_December_2021_Vol.83_No.6

2021 E.R. Cass Award Banquet

Tony Wilkes has reached that rare combination with his tireless and exemplary work in the correc- tions field. Wilkes began his career in corrections at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) in 1987 as a Correctional Officer assigned to the Workhouse (formerly known as the Jerry Newson Center and now the location of DCSO’s Headquarters). In 1991, he transferred to the now demolished Criminal Justice Center (CJC) where he worked as the master control operator until 1994. He was promoted to an Administrative Services Officer at the CJC and, two years later, he became the CJC Chief of Security.

for correctional ethics and professionalism on a global scale with his outstanding work as an auditor for Mexican and Okinawan correctional systems and as a training consultant for systems in the United Arab Emirates. His dedication to the field of cor - rections is highlighted by his exemplary service as Treasurer and as the current Vice President of the American Correctional Association. This amounts to a remarkable career of bring- ing new levels of humanity, professionalism and justice to the corrections field. We join with Sheriff Elias A. Diggins who wrote “everyone who hears this news [will be] cheering in celebration.” ACA welcomes Dr. Auferheide and Mr. Wilkes to the distinguished ranks of E.R. Cass awardees. As ACA Executive Director James A. Gondles Jr. reminded “This is the highest award anyone can receive in corrections,” and we look forward to many more years of outstanding service in the field of corrections for both of these worthy honorees.

151 st Congress of Correction In 2002, Tony transferred to the Correctional Work Center, now the Correctional Development Center, as Chief of Security and was later ap- pointed Administrator of that institution. In 2006, Tony became DCSO’s first-ever Site Administrator for the Sheriffs Southeast Complex, overseeing the management and administrative duties associated with operating multiple stand-alone correctional institutions. In 2008, Mr. Wilkes was named as the first Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Cor - rections. He is responsible for the administration and operational management of three stand-alone institutions as well as a Behavioral Care Center. He has also shared his in-depth knowledge of the corrections field with thousands of others through

— Kirk Raymond

his work on a host of ACA’s professional com- mittees including the Restrictive Housing Ad-Hoc Committee and the Staff Safety and Security Com- mittee. In addition, he has become an ambassador

54 — November/December 2021 Corrections Today