Field Days

This week on the Field Days podcast, hear from special guests Joanne Bridgford, Bill Henderson, Patti Yerke, and Christine Gehring. All are members of the wellness team and are spreading awareness for PTSD, since June is PTSD Awareness month. Also, the wellness team is planning to train and assist MDOC employees with PTSD help, suicide prevention, and decreasing stress.

Field Days Podcast - 2018 Employee Rec Day by Field Days

On this week’s edition of Field Days, we hear from Elwanda Ray, the department's 2018 Corrections Officer of the Year. Officer Ray shares her passion for her job and discusses her work with youthful offenders at Thumb Correctional Facility.Officer Ray has served with the MDOC for 17 years and is known for her compassion and professionalism.

On this week’s edition of Field Days, hear more about the recently announced prison closure and get a recap of the Mackinac Conference from last week. Also, a special shout out to MDOC Director Heidi Washington from the Governor, Rick Snyder! All this and more on this week’s edition of our Field Days podcast!

Memorial Day offers a time for reflection and an opportunity to honor those who have served and sacrificed to protect our country. In this special edition podcast, we pay tribute to the friends and family of our staff that have bravely served. We honor, remember and appreciate their sacrifice.

Matthew Clausen started his career as a corrections officer at Ojibway Correctional Facility and loved the work. Now as an Institutional Training Officer at Ojibway Correctional Facility was named the winner of the Michigan Department of Corrections Director’s Award for his involvement in developing improved training for corrections staff statewide. Still, in shock from receiving the department's highest honor, Matt attributes his success to great leadership and colleagues.

Agent Toni Narvais-Cooklin was named the 2018 Candice Dunn Agent of the Year for her desire to go above and beyond to help offenders achieve success in the communities where they live. Toni has 18 years with the department and currently works at the Tuscola County Parole and Probation Office. In this episode, Toni articulates the importance of continuing to instill hope in the offenders she works with.

The department's newest WRAP program gives West Michigan judges an additional option during sentencing to lead offenders to a better path that doesn’t include prison time. All counties west of U.S. 127 and in the Upper Peninsula are able to participate. The program targets high-risk probation violators and offers cognitive behavioral therapy and vocational training. Eaton County Undersheriff Jeffrey Cook and Eaton County Agent Clint Auer talk about why the program is important for correcting offenders.

The Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program (SSSPP) in Clinton/Gratiot County is a program that targets high risk felony probationers and is aimed at returning them to a productive lifestyle. SSSPP strives to reduce the number of probation violations by providing certain and consistent rules and sanctions for the probationer that are administered immediately within 72 hours of detainment. In part two, of the Swift and Sure mini-series program coordinator Samantha Rice, 29th Circuit Court Judge Michelle Rick and probation agent Heidi McMurphy share the success of the Swift and Sure Sanctions Program.

Thomas Myers, a management analyst for the problem-solving courts team, explains what the Swift and Sure court program is in its simplest definition — felony probation. In part one, of the Swift and Sure mini-series Thomas provides an overview of the State Court Administrative Office involvement in the program. Stay tuned for next week's episode with Clinton County to learn more about the Swift and Sure court program. SCAO is the administrative agency of the Michigan Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has administrative oversight of Michigan's courts and exercises that oversight through the SCAO.