Thursday, May 17, 2012

GreenPrisons at Ohio Wardens and Superintendents Conference

GreenPrisons was invited to present the advantages of sustainability to the Ohio Wardens and Superintendents Association (OWSA)Conference in Berlin, Ohio May 17. With over 100+ wardens and superintendents from the adult and juvenile systems from around Ohio and many of their administrators an informative discussion was held including numerous projects ongoing in the Buckeye state. In his opening remarks Director Gary Mohr talked to the group about the importance of developing new management strategies whose results can be measured. Sustainable initiatives by their nature are measureable whether in dollars saved, pounds recycled, inmates trained or electical loads reduced. As part of their training intiatives the warden's association has assigned a team of wardens to monitor the savings generated over the next six months from the sustainable efforts and report back to the Director. GreenPrisons will work with the wardens committee to make sure they are regularly informed of new products and practices. The program also included presentations by Commissioner Chris Epps of Mississippi and Warden Burl Cain of Angola.

Friday, May 11, 2012

GreenPrisons Salutes Correctional Workers Week

As Correctional Workers week comes to an end, and I reflect back on the last 40 years and my career in corrections I am reminded of the many exceptional people I've met along the way. From my peers and friends that I went through training with to those first few nights on the job not really having a clue about what to do and the Supervisors who always seemed to walk through the door just when I needed them most. My time in corrections has been challenging, a little bit scary and yet the most fulfilling I could imagine. Today's correctional workers have an equally daunting task if not more so. They have the advantage of being better trained, and better equipped but the challenges of working with incarcerated individuals can be as difficult today as it was back then. Technology in some ways has made. The job easier but at perhaps the expense of inhibiting interpersonal skills. We can never forget that the job is about people, those we confine, those we protect. And those we stand next to, to get the job done. This isn't a very "green" message this week but I would argue it is all about "sustaining" the profession and the people who work in it. Be safe, take care of yourself, thank your family for their support,and take care of each other