Years ago, corrections might have been considered a boys club. In a field full of male COs, many women could practically see the sign “No Girls Allowed” hanging on facility walls.

But the times have changed. Now, throughout corrections, women are working their way to the top with advanced degrees, certifications and determination.

“Ten years ago, I remember looking at corrections departments and thinking that there were very few women who were superintendents. Today, I look across departments and I see women working as division heads, wardens and commissioners. I genuinely think the field has opened up to women, and I think there's much more acceptance,” says Massachusetts DOC Commissioner Kathleen M. Dennehy.

Across the country, women are making an impact in high positions. Theresa Lantz, Connecticut's DOC Commissioner, Camille Camp, executive director of the Association of State Correctional Administrators, and Patricia Caruso of the Michigan DOC are just a few of the woman who are taking charge in corrections.

So how did these women make their way into corrections? For Dennehy, corrections started as a paid internship. During her sophomore year of college, she worked at the Massachusetts Walpole State Prison. Although she majored in government, Dennehy thought corrections sounded interesting and she loved the salary that came along with the gig.

“I never thought corrections would be a long term job for me. If you had asked me when I was 20 years old if I thought I'd work in corrections, I would have said no!” she recalls.

But after graduating from college, Dennehy was offered a job as a records manager for a men's state prison. She saw it as a great opportunity, but figured she would be in the field for the short term. Dennehy found the job interesting, but never thought of it as a career until she was promoted to another facility.

“Most people started with a job title in corrections and worked their way up the chain of command, often within the same facility. But I didn't. I literally traveled to different facilities for each promotion; I wasn't put off by the geography. If it meant driving forty minutes, I didn't care. At that point, I loved the pace of corrections. It's just a field that encompasses so much and something is always happening,” she says.

Traveling linearly through departments is no new trend for females in corrections. Rather than working their way up through one facility, many females have worked at various facilities across states. Some have made career steps across state lines, like AZDOC director Dora Schriro.

“I started at an entry-level position in corrections after I received my college degree, but I was pretty quickly placed on a fast track by men who recommended me in the field. As I progressed, I started to meet more and more women and they supported me just as much as the men. I just kept taking risks. I moved from state to state to work as an assistant commissioner, a warden and a superintendent. I have worked in Massachusetts, New York, Missouri and now Arizona. Those moves were calculated risks I took, moving to places where I didn't know anyone, but I needed to take them,” Schriro remembers.

During all those moves and risks, she continued her education. She worked towards her master's and doctorate degrees, and attended law school, all while working full-time in corrections.

“In a field that is growing more and more professional, you really need to combine work experience and educational experience,” Schriro explains. “For me, I would stop and pursue my education whenever I felt that I had a lot of questions.”

Dennehy and Schriro have both learned much along their way to the top. Dennehy believes there has been a noticeable shift in the corrections culture that now welcomes females, and she also believes practical corrections experience is best when combined with education, much like Schriro. Denney also says COs, either men or women, should keep an eye on best practices, and work to find friends in the business that can offer support.

“It's so important to have relationships where you can seek the advice of someone who works as a coach, cheerleader and confidante,” Schriro says. “For many women, Susan Hunter was a champion of women's work in corrections. She was a coach, cheerleader and confidante. She helped to show us that you could have a career and a family at the same time. Before that, there were many women who had to choose one or the other.”

As women progressed through the field, many have learned to balance their education, careers and families. Women in corrections have learned to balance their ambition with their personal lives, which Dennehy says is very important in order to lead a happy and healthy life. By focusing on education, best practices, and great friendships, women can continue to shine in the field.

And to the women in corrections, Schriro has a word of inspiration.

“To all the women in corrections working hard to succeed, I say keep it up and you go girl!” Schriro says.

Although Corrections.com couldn't catch up with every woman working in corrections, we do appreciate your hard work and dedication. If you'd like to share your corrections success stories with us, email us at: feedback@corrections.com