Corrections_Today_Summer_2025_Vol.87_No.2

PAST PRESIDENT’S CORNER

corrections. However, happenstance led me to a position at another Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) facility: the Lebanon Correctional Institution. Fully intending to stay a few years to pay off college bills and then look for more “serious” work, fate, once again, had other plans — I spent the next ten years there. This is where my view of corrections shifted from just a job to a calling. This work is not just about policies and procedures — it’s about people, purpose, and progress. And I am honored to be a small part of it. In the 1970’s, sporting an afro, bell-bottoms and a somewhat brash attitude, I worked for an extraordi nary warden named Bill Dallman who was extremely patient with me. It was during my time with Warden Dallman that my transformational leadership perspectives began to crystallize. Warden Dallman and his team were not afraid to effectuate positive changes in management and rehabilitation. At LeCI, we imple mented higher education classes, vocational training, computer pro gramming (yes, in the 1970s) and mental health counseling. Before I knew it, I was “all in.” My career took me from Lebanon to leading the Corrections Train ing Academy (now the Reginald Wilkinson Corrections Training Academy), to serving as warden of the Dayton Correctional Institution

(the first entity in Ohio to become ACA accredited), and deputy direc tor of prisons for the South Region. In 1991, I was appointed director of ODRC and served in this capacity until my retirement in 2006. While leading ODRC, I held elected officer positions for ACA, the Association of State Correctional Administra tors (now the Correctional Leaders Association), and the International Corrections and Prisons Association. Throughout my career, a set of core beliefs have guided me, and I would like to share a few of them with you. I believe : – If it ain’t broke, fix it anyway. Don’t simply “leave it alone.” If we left our work alone, not unlike still water, it will become stagnant. We should not fix our work only when there is a problem; continuous improvement should always be our goal. – People are our greatest asset. Personnel in this craft are the personification of human capi tal. We should appreciate them, especially line staff, for their part in keeping our institutions and communities safe. I also believe no one understands our work better than those who do it daily. Thus, go out of your way to recognize staff who are directly responsible for public safety and public health. – Respect and compassion mat ter. We should have respect and compassion for those intertwined with the justice sys tem — whether they are in the general population or in restric tive housing, are enrolled in

college or just had their proba tion revoked. While the hammer is sometimes necessary, we achieve more with honey. – Integrity is non-negotiable. Always err on the side of do ing the right thing. Even the perception of impropriety can be damaging. As a Boy Scout growing up in Detroit, I was always mindful of our law: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” We must all have a set of values to live by. – Excellence is the only stan dard. “Just okay” is not okay. Lifelong learning, research and engagement with organizations like ACA keep us growing. An “association junkie,” I would fervently seek out new ideas to adopt. Additionally, joining trade groups, reading, research ing and/or attending lectures will raise your excellence temperature. – In me. I believe in me as a per son on this planet who must give more to it than I take from it. I believe I am more than just an individual without a noble purpose . I believe in fun and joy. I believe family and friends are critical to our success. I believe I am resilient enough to manage tough challenges and to appreciate the rest.

This work is not just about policies and procedures — it’s about people, purpose, and prog ress. And I am honored to be a small part of it. CT

Summer 2025 | Corrections Today

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