Corrections_Today_Winter_2025-2026_Vol.87_No.4

E.R. Cass Awards

E.R. Cass Awards capped by a special surprise T he E.R. Cass award banquet, held in the Hyatt Regency Denver Centennial Ballroom,

The next honoree was Ohio’s Director of Rehabilitation and Correction Annette Chambers-Smith. Chambers-Smith began by mentioning how similar her story was to Mr. Collier’s with the support she received from family, friends and colleagues throughout her career. She stressed her work on standards, especially with the performance-based standards

honored two highly decorated corrections professionals, Bryan Collier and Annette Chambers Smith.

Collier, who recently retired as Executive Director of the Texas Department of Justice spoke first thanking his family and his fellow colleagues for “allowing me to do this job.” Collier also lauded the support he received from the American Correctional Association cit ing “the networking, the support, the friendships, the sharing of ideas, the learning from each other, professionally growing while at the same time making lifelong friends.” He concluded by describing how these ele ments come together to “make our profession stronger, help us all strive for excellence by chal lenging us in a very difficult environment.”

Jeff Washington

committee calling it “one of the most important things I do” and “I encourage anyone who’s not currently accredited to get accredited.” Chambers-Smith acknowledged the great opportunities opened by her career in corrections saying “not many people are favored with the opportunity to make such a positive impact. It’s worthy work. It’s meaningful work.” She went on to describe her goals as “making the depart ment a safer place and a place of healing. Making Ohio safer. “

→

Bryan Collier

Annette Chambers-Smith

Winter 2025-2026 | Corrections Today

67