In the corrections system, people who secure the safety of their facility and inmates have a mentally and physically demanding job that seems to offer little relief until the day is done. Many times to escape this world, practitioners pursue hobbies and interests after hours. These are their stories.


Having worked in corrections for the past decade, I learned early on in my career that outside interests would ultimately help me retain a degree of balance required to not lose site of life's most important elements. Triathlon is now my recreational activity of choice. Daily training (sometimes 7-13 miles of running, 75+ miles of biking and swimming three times weekly in the a.m. before work) significantly improve my enthusiasm for the work I do as Clinical Operations Coordinator for CiviGenics, Inc. Key-Crest programs in Delaware.

I compete in several events annually, and while I am by no means a candidate for the Olympics, I absolutely enjoy the workday far more knowing that while amidst what is often a chaotic work environment, my day will end with a peaceful bike ride or a quiet run near the shoreline of Delaware's resort beaches. This, along with raising my 15 month-old twins, River and Gracie, provide me with more than enough purposeful existence beyond the work place. That's what I do.

Jim Elder, Delaware

I'm 58 years of age and work in the Wichita, Kansas State parole office. I've been employed in the Department of Corrections now for fifteen years. I've worked in urban, small-town, and rural settings through my tenure. Right now I supervise approximately 70 convicted sex offenders, but have supervised generic caseloads most of my career. Parole officer hours vary, depending on the nature of the assignment, with some ability to vary hours to meet personal needs. I personally work four ten-hour days with a three day weekend.

My time off is spent in a variety of ways. From March to September, I am in the yard, which is my favorite place to be. With a history of family farming, I guess it comes naturally. So, I have a small garden each year, mostly for a hobby, but also to supplement healthy foods into my diet. I also enjoy a nice yard, so mowing, planting, watering, etc never ends.

I am actively involved in the Fraternal Order of Police and am the president of Lodge #64, which covers all parole officers in Kansas. We are a young lodge, but there are lots of things to be accomplished in our effort to represent the interests of parole officers, the Department of Corrections, the State of Kansas, and most importantly, the citizens of Kansas.

My wife and I are active in our local church. We both hold various positions and nearly every weekend serve in some capacity there. Our church life is one of the most important aspects of our total life.

When possible, we like to visit friends and family in other states. Missouri, Colorado, and the southwest portion of the U.S. are our favorite destinations. I'm a cowboy at heart, so any country that is rural, rustic, and rugged draws me. I'm into cowboy shooting and memorabilia, and I am fortunate to have a wife who is willing to suffer through some of my interests.

We both also enjoy drag racing, camping and travel. Concerning the drag racing hobby, I did race for several years, both in Great Bend and Wichita, and my wife raced too. The sport was in our blood, but the money just wasn't in the pocket, so we stopped that hobby, other than attending to watch, after perhaps four or five years. Now we participate by attending local and some national events.

Fred Debes, Kansas

Paul Sivo has been a Rhode Island correctional officer for the past 17 years, but has a fun and unique family business that provides a healthy balance between his work and outside life. Paul and his wife, Tracy, own two Dippin' Dots stores, a fast-growing franchise which sells cryogenically flash frozen ice cream. Because it is “the coldest ice cream in the world,” frozen at 300 degrees below zero and stored at 40 below, the product holds its texture better than traditional ice cream.

“It's like taking traditional ice cream and putting it into a futuristic form that's appealing to children and adults,” Paul says.

He is responsible for transportation and distribution, while Tracy handles marketing and the day-to-day aspects of the business. Their children Paul, 17, Cory, 15, and daughter Alicia, 14, are also involved. In addition to their stores in Gallillee, RI, and Marlborough, Mass., the Sivos bring a portable cart to many local fairs, festivals, Bah Mitzvahs and corporate events.

“We'll bring one of our freezers to a school for a fundraiser and give 25 percent of the profits back to the school,” he says. “My involvement in the business helps me realize that life is different outside of here, that there is still life beyond these walls. It reminds me that regardless of what I do for a living, there is still a lot of good out there.”

Paul Sivo, Rhode Island

Timothy Sebra, has been acting as the Associate Warden Business Services for more than four months while continuing to perform his normal duties as a correctional business manager. Tim commutes more than 160 miles a day for work, sometimes leaving one job just to drive to the next. But his outlet helps him relieve the stress of all that travel to manage two jobs.

He owns and is head instructor of the Mountain Martial Arts Family Self Defense Academy in Tehachapi, CA. This is a side business that he enjoys and considers “an excellent source of release."

"I love teaching and this provides teaching and a workout all in one,” he says. 

Tim practices his art to near perfection as well. This past July, he was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame. When asked about how it felt to receive this honor, he said "I still feel amazed. I mean, I am making history and am now being recognized with the likes of Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, etc."

Tim has been studying martial arts since 1987 and has been teaching since 2000. Tim also enjoys spending time with his family and doing church activities.

"These are integral parts of my life. I could not do my job or my hobby without God and the support of my family." Tim's family helps him operate the school and they are also martial arts students.

Timothy Sebra, California

With the primary mission of keeping kids off the streets and out of prison, Officer Chico Sykes, is gearing up to kick off the second season of the North End 49ers Youth Football League.

“The North End (of Providence) has a lot of problems,” Sykes says when he discusses how he chose where to put his 25 years of youth sport volunteering to good use. He is a 19-year veteran of the DOC, currently working at Minimum Security. He believes law enforcement officers serve as positive role models for youth, particularly in an area where they are typically afraid of the authorities.

During its inaugural season as a member of the Rhode Island Pre-teen Football Association, the league had more than 300 registered participants ages six to 14, with 30 coaches. Four cheerleading squads also participate. According to Sykes, inmates have thanked him for starting the league.

“They see that it is making a difference in their child's life,” he said. Sykes is happy that the league offers hope. “We all experience good and bad days in our jobs,” said Sykes. “On the bad days, I look forward to going to the field to work with the kids.”

Chico Sykes, Rhode Island

Officer Rose Cantu and other staff at the Central California Women's Facility have gone out on their own and created a group that visits local high schools and churches to present her program, “Keep it Real.”

Her program is similar to “Scared Straight” presentations that tell kids about life inside prison with the hope of keeping them out. Rose does this on her own time and with the help of local community groups such as the Kiwanis.

Rose Cantu, California