"Get in the game."

That was the message that baseball great Cal Ripkin gave to corrections officials who attended the annual American Correctional Association conference in Baltimore last week.

Officials from around the country gathered to learn new approaches to challenges they face in their jurisdictions as well as words of advice from those inside and outside their profession.

Ripkin, who retired with the Major League record of most consecutive games played, 400 homeruns and 3,000 hits, spoke to hundreds at the conference's opening session, giving them his tips on longevity and perseverance.

"My job was to come to the ballpark every day ready to play...Maybe your approach is to help with a juvenile's rehabilitation. If you miss one day, maybe they will fall back," said Ripkin, who kicked off the event.

Later in the week, conference attendees learned about a variety of new programs and best practices from across the country and methods for combating problems they face. It was Ripkin's speech, however, that set the tone for the hard work and conviction that is needed in the corrections and criminal justice field.

Ripkin's Secrets

Although asked over and over again about his secret to longevity by the media, Ripkin said it took him some time to develop what he believes are the eight traits that are important to success: the right approach, a strong will to succeed, passion, love of competition, consistency, conviction, strength and life management.

The right approach for Ripkin was an honest and pure approach to meet the challenges of the day.

A strong will to succeed comes from within. It is both genetic and learned, he said. He was able to channel competitiveness and energy back into his game to succeed.

Ripkin said passion is to love what you do. "It carries you through and makes it worthwhile. There are going to be times when you don't want to go to work," he said.

Love to compete, he said, on all levels internal and external. Ripkin told the group that he never forgot that he always had to compete for his job. Even at age 41, he said, he wanted to take more ground balls during practice than anyone else. "I never let anyone out-work me," he said.

Ripkin said that one has to make consistent contributions to be successful. "You can't always make the game-winning hit, but the more contributions you make, the more valuable you are," he said. He added that successful people will adjust and readjust to their surroundings, perform everyday and solve problems and find solutions.

It is also important to know when you are right and stand up for what you believe in. Having conviction, he said, is like being stubborn but with the right purpose, it is okay. "You see things through until the end," he added.

Strength is also important - both physically and mentally. He said the link between exercising and maintaining mental focus should also be understood.

Finally, he said life management is important. "If you have a good handle on it, then you can be successful," said Ripkin. To help him maintain some predictability in his life, Ripkin said he used to manage his spring training play and create schedule for his manager. That way he knew his days on and days off in advance. 

His parting words were to become involved in "the game" then you can find out "who you are."

Maryland's Focus

Also speaking to practitioners at last week's conference was Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich who described efforts that state government and the public safety and corrections department had made to curb recidivism. The main focus for the administration and the department is a program called Restart.

Ehrlich described the effort as a focus on preparing offenders for release into the community - which was also the focus of several conference sessions throughout the week.

"Even with a minimal degree of success, our streets will be safer in the future," he said.

Ehrlich said Restart give inmates the tools and skills they need to compete in the free world, which costs money but is well worth the expenditure.

"Moneys pent behind the walls is not particularly attractive," he said.

Nevertheless, Ehrlich felt the program was needed to improve safety and the quality of life in the state.

Several other Maryland programs were also discussed at the conference's professional development sessions including wraparound system delivery for youth in the Baltimore area and the Collaborative Supervision and Forced Enforcement program that involves police and probation to focus attention on those offenders most at risk to recidivate.

Sessions

Other sessions at the conference focused on the results of a research study looking into the success of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program by the University of Baltimore. Compared in the study were participants of Prison Industries Enhancement, Traditional Industries and Other than Work groups or those who were eligible to work but participated in other programs such as education.

Among the findings was information that 21 percent of participants never gained employment after release. The prison industries enhancement participants got jobs quicker than others and the traditional and other-than-work inmates obtained jobs at the same rate.

Other workshops included a discussion of how correctional agencies should work together  and create alliances -- locally, nationally and internationally. Presenters at the session, which included members of the International Association of Re-entry, spoke about strategies to raise the profile of correctional issues politically.

A discussion of terrorism elements behind prison walls and how to prevent attacks by G. Steve Morrison, Vice President of Public Safety and Homeland Security of the West Virginia High Technology Council Foundation, which operates The Moundsville Center - host of the Mock Riot and Mock Disaster each year.

Morrison spoke about signs of potential terrorist threats inside and outside the walls and ways for correctional staff and agencies to prevent potential attacks, including exercising local and regional emergency plans.

Throughout the conference, attendees were asked to remember the importance of their work and to learn from each other during their time in Baltimore and while they learned best practices from the workshops.

"This is challenging work. This is noble work. What we do to change people's lives makes a statement about our commitment to change humanity," said Gwendolyn Chunn, President of ACA.

The conference concluded with an annual award ceremony honoring those who have served the field. The E.R. Cass Award was presented this year to Glenn Goord, Commissioner of the New York Department of Correctional Services and Charlotte Nesbitt, who created and directed Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village.