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| Corrections Expressions Winners! |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter, Corrections Expressions Winners! |
| Published: 01/08/2007 |
As the New Year begins, we couldn't think of a better way to inspire our readers than to announce the winners of our first Corrections Expressions Contest. 
When we originally announced the contest, we weren't sure what to expect. But within days, our phones were ringing off the hook and an outpouring of corrections pride filled our inboxes. We heard stories from dental assistants, facility directors, public information officers, and COs from all shifts. No matter how much we've reported on the industry, nothing could have prepared us for the glimpse you gave us into the life of the corrections professional.
After hours of reading, many paper cuts, and debates over who should take home first-place honors, we're pleased to announce our three winners. Next week, we will publish honorable mention entries. We hope you find these stories as inspiring as we did. Happy New Year! First Place Winner: Paula Mikles Corrections Officer Putnamville Correctional Facility Indiana Department of Corrections We selected Paula's entry because it touched upon the rich corrections history and how its tradition has been passed through her family. Many years ago the father of two young boys left them and their mother. Their mother remarried hoping to make their lives better. It was then that these boys found out what hell on earth was. Their stepfather beat them daily with his hands, and on several occasions with a baseball bat. Their stepfather hit them until they were bleeding and throwing up. The example set by their stepfather could have made them just like him but with the help of God, family, friends and neighbors these boys turned out to be shining examples for all. Both boys went on to serve their country in WWII. They earned Bronze and Silver Stars, Purple Hearts and several French metals. After the war both brothers set about trying to help others as they had been helped. Not only did they give people food and clothes, but they even gave some a home until they got on their feet. Both boys went on to convey what they had learned to their children and asked that they pass it on to others, and to remember the Golden Rule. One of these brothers was my father, my hero, and my best friend. The other was my uncle. My father always said if you show someone how to be a good person, you can change their pathway in life. My father and uncle showed this pathway to their children, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. They made such a difference that when my dad passed away from cancer, at the age of 80, we received messages and flowers from all over the United States, with many from the people he helped. And at his funeral were people from all of the surrounding states to attend the service. Every single one of them said that without my father's friendship and guidance they would never have made it in the world. When my uncle passed away from a heart attack, his work truck was at his house. His co-workers were so upset that they could not drive his truck back to the plant. This was done by my dad who thanked all who worked with his brother, and he would always be their friend. Of my father's children, two work in corrections; one son-in-law and two grandchildren. Of my uncle's children, one is in corrections and is a Vietnam Veteran, and one of his grandchildren works with at-risk children. So you can see how well their teachings worked. I want to pass on the teachings of my father, and uncle, to people incarcerated. Many of our offenders never had the love of either of their parents. Many had bad experiences in foster care. Many were mistreated, beaten, raped, hungry or unwanted by anyone. I want to teach them that they matter by caring, and giving them respect. I want to show them how to succeed on their own, how to love and be loved. Give them praise when they do well in education, work, or have good conduct. I want to show them how to pass this information along to other offenders and I hope this will go full circle and not only be a reward for me but for them also. As I work with offenders each day, I try to be firm, fair and consistent. I show them respect and praise for the work they do. These offenders are people too, and they have feelings and families just like anyone else. If we set good examples for them, give them positive feedback, and make a real effort they will succeed in changing their lives. They will become heroes to their children, families, friends, and neighbors, and gain a purpose in life and self worth. In over twenty years of working in various positions in corrections I have seen this happen and will continue my quest to pass it on just as two brothers did many years ago. I hope all who read this pass it on and make a real impact on someone's life, and I can guarantee your cup will overflow with blessings. Second Place Winner: Scott Barlag Deputy Director of Juvenile Services LaPorte County Juvenile Services Center LaPorte County, Indiana Scott's story of corrections focuses on the truest sense of the word. Webster defines the word correct as “to make right,” conforming to a conventional standard,” “agreeing with fact or fiction.” It is the underlying belief in all correctional staff to “make right” those adults or juveniles in our charge. Additionally, for those in supervision, it is our goal to guide our staff towards a “conventional standard.” Regardless of our position, the goal is a common one to “make right” our situation. When I began my career as a juvenile probation officer, I had the lofty goals of connecting with the juveniles on a level that no other person had ever been able to connect. I believed that due to my young age and similar life experiences I would be able to relate and even see through the smoke screen laid down in an attempt to throw me off of the scent of dishonesty. It did not take long for me to realize how sheltered of a life I had actually experienced in relationship to the juveniles. Many of the youth had lived a full life within their short years walking the earth. Then my own lifestyle came into conflict with my professional life. Through a series of wrong place-wrong time occurrences, I had essentially committed professional suicide and was asked to leave. I had not “conformed to a conventional standard.” For the next eight years I trudged to a job that was not true to my being. Perhaps I was paying a type of penance in professional purgatory. One day the gods of forgiveness looked down upon me and decided that my time had been paid and it was now time to right what I had made wrong. During my interview, I asked if the juveniles under our supervision were expecting a second chance, and didn't we in fact offer second chances in their lives to make right what they had made wrong. This thought must have resonated with the interviewer as I was subsequently re-hired into the same office I had previously worked. The circle had now been completed. I had offered juveniles the opportunity to make right during my time as a probation officer and I had been given the opportunity to make right in my own life. This experience has remained with me and I attempt to share it with others every chance I have. Presently, I am the deputy director of a small juvenile services center in Indiana. I know how other supervisors have treated me and how I responded to them. I know what opportunities I have been given in life and now it is my chance to pass along similar experiences and opportunities. When you have the ability “to make right,” to correct, seize the moment, do not make corrections a negative connotation. Corrections should have the most positive outlook because corrections is the ability to make a wrong into a right. Third Place Winner: Linda Tew Senior Correctional Probation Officer Florida Department of Corrections Hudson, Florida With a sassy, humorous take on corrections, Linda made us all laugh and showed us another side of the profession. I initially read about the first annual corrections expressions contest in the weekly department newsletter. Now, I do have to admit my first knee-jerk reaction was to wonder how one would type an entire essay of hysterical laughter. Then, I said to myself “Hey, you've been at this job for almost 17 years, there has to be a reason SEVENTEEN YEARS!!?!?! Where are the Tums!?” For all of you who are wondering, when I joined the Florida Department of Corrections, I had just turned 25 and was single (Ahh, freedom), balloon pants and MC Hammer were slowly fading (not fast enough), and I had real brown hair vs. today's fresh out of the bottle color-of-the-month. I had a BS in Zoology (Yeah, I know all the inevitable jokes) and was looking for a state job. There were no openings for biological specialists, but there were openings in Probation and Parole, and all they wanted was any 4 year degree. In early 1990, B.C. (Before Computers), I walked in the door for my first day on the job and was handed a manual of procedures and 50 sex offender cases .Ahhhhh, the good old days of sink or swim training! Boy, did I get a rude awakening as to the real world! Not a day went by without seeing something new, unusual, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, heartwarming or simply funny as heck. Which brings me back to why I have been here 17 years BECAUSE IT IS NEVER BORING! Traditionally, office work is inherently boring, but our office work is always interesting. I work with the best officer's in the Florida DOC, officers who come from all types of backgrounds (retired military, retired police officer, former substance abuse/mental health counselors, early retirees who needed another job, fresh out of college criminology majors who want to save the world (bless them all), and the occasional odd ball who doesn't have a criminology degree, but needed a job). We all utilize our life experiences and educational backgrounds to benefit each other, the department, and all personages within our sphere of influence OOKAAAY translation We're a bunch of people crammed into a small office building overseeing hundreds of active cases every month while trying to stay out of each other's hair and simultaneously watching out for each other and keeping an ear out for any problems. In short, we are a family. Yeah there are enough personality quirks to fill a Psych. 101 text book, but what family doesn't have a few weird relatives? Teamwork, patience, acceptance, tolerance, and a LOT of humor are the recipe for a great office. Daily discussions regarding offenders' decision- making capabilities (or lack thereof) and their subsequent actions, leads to several chuckles and a lot of head shaking; the offender that committed several burglaries and left his officer's appointment card behind; the offender who tested positive due to (her story) the exchange of bodily fluids between her and her cocaine addict boyfriend; the offender who tested positive and wanted a written statement so he could get his money refunded from the company who sold him “system flush;” and on and on and on. My personal favorite is the 17 year-old offender who walked into my office the first day and said “Wow, you're listening to rock music, but you're old!” (He lasted a month on probation). As one of my co-workers so eloquently stated “You just can't make this stuff up”. Field work is challenging. Neo-Nazis, bikers, clansmen, nudists (talk about maintaining eye contact!), teenagers, grandparents, and common everyday people have all ended up on supervision. I've had a case that lived in a housing development that required ID, badge, DNA sample and your first born child just to get through the security gate (ironic isn't it?) and a case that lived in a trailer in the middle of a cow pasture where a bull took an extreme dislike to my truck and proceeded to head-butt it (I've learned the term “road hazard” can take on a whoooole new meaning around here), the case's Rottweiler who wanted to make my tires into Swiss cheese (but he was “just playing”), the pet raccoon who tried to surf in my hair (no, I don't think he has rabies), the dog that jumped through the open window of my truck (but “he really likes you”), the cougar that liked to have his ears scratched (suuuure he does), were all considered to be the “children” of my cases. I believe I am the only officer to have a case report to the office with a goat on a leash to try and impress me. You see a pattern here somewhere? Field work is definitely not boring. I don't think I would like to work somewhere knowing what each day will bring. I'd be bored to death and comatose within a week. I like the challenge of something new every day (with the possible exception of seeing one of my cases on the six-o-clock news). I was told early on in this job that you can make all the plans you want for the day, but someone or something will mess it up (usually several someones and somethings). I think that is a universal DOC cosmic law. But hey I LOVE MY JOB. |
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miss you already linda, a freak in your own right. thursdays huge calendars with Judge Andrews aka mojo, will never be the same with out you my friend. My condolences to your husband, and to all your online gamer-friends/competitors...y0uv've gotten a free pass with Linnie no longer in our game. she's got bigger fish to fry, a whole new level of .... what ever. Can't belive your gone...love a pasco county clerk.11/07/11