Field Days

Cary Johnson, a corrections officer at G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Jackson was named the 2017 Corrections Officer of the Year for her integrity and dedication to public safety. She is passionate about many issues that corrections officers face on a daily basis including PTSD and wants to help guide the next generation of officers.

James Fults, who was named the 2017 Director's Award winner for his tireless efforts to promote the Vocational Village in the business community and help connect paroling prisoners to jobs, reflects on what the award means to him. He shares his best stories of offender success in this Field Days Podcast episode.

Director Heidi Washington attended the Mackinac Policy Conference, focused on one of the conference's pillars - increasing economic opportunity. By having conversations with business leaders about the department's Vocational Village, Director Washington is hopeful returning citizens will be provided opportunities where they can have successful lives outside prison walls. She stresses that providing valuable job training which helps prisoners secure careers reduces the risk of re-offense.

The program has shown early success, but it is in jeopardy due to budget cuts proposed by the state Senate. The MDOC requested funding to expand WRAP to the west side of the state and build on the positive results seen in southeast Michigan, but it was not supported in the Senate’s budget proposal. This episode provides a current update on the WRAP program at Detroit Reentry Center and reiterates the positive role this program plays in offender success.

In this special edition podcast, we pay tribute to Candice Dunn, the 2017 Probation/Parole Agent of the Year, who was tragically killed in a car accident on May 9. You will hear her acceptance speech from the night she received her award and a shared memory from Judge Phyllis McMillen. Patti Yerke, a program manager from the Employee Services Program talks about how to cope with grief and the resources available to staff that may need additional help handling instances of traumatic loss.

In the first ever live episode of Field Days you'll hear from the Field Operations Administration (FOA) Outstate and Metro Supervisors of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients at the 2017 FOA Supervisors Conference. Your hosts Chris and Greg with returning host Noah put Tammy Pettit, Larry MacDonald and Laraine VanLopik in the hot seat to uncover their secrets to being a successful supervisor. Next week a special edition podcast will pay tribute to Candice Dunn, the 2017 Probation/Parole Agent of the Year, who was tragically killed in a car accident on May 9. A tribute, which includes her acceptance speech from the awards ceremony can be watched here: bit.ly/CandiceDunnTribute

In 2003, the Michigan Department of Corrections began what would become a long and fulfilling relationship with the Children's Trust Fund by donating items to its first auction to help support the organization's mission.This week you'll hear Mike Foley and Tricia Headley, of the Children's Trust Fund, talk about the history of the auction, the department's involvement in it, and some of the impressive items donated by the department.

This week Chris and Greg talk about a new program that helps provide paroling prisoners with an additional avenue to access jobs. The Trading Places program helps prisoners in building trades earn credit hours towards their Journeyman's Card for the time spent in the classroom while honing their skills. You'll also hear what Director Heidi Washington and other Trading Place partners had to say to prisoners about the program.

65 years ago, a week-long celebration and specific day were organized to show appreciation for administrative professionals who typically go unthanked in their jobs. Administrative professionals Clara Reid, Miffer Griffin and Kent Williams talk about what the job means to them. Field Days hosts Chris and Greg help sing their praises in this new episode.

Field Days Podcast - Employee Rec Day by Field Days