With our new VersaFrame Seating Series, the possibilities are endless! Its extreme durability is matched only by its versatility, capable of being employed as a standalone option or connected into rows of any size. For facilities needing extra security, VersaFrame offers bolt-down capability and includes cuff rings.
Norix is proud to create products that utilize a unique blend of residential aesthetics and robust durability to form visually pleasing pieces, engineered to endure the rigors of challenging environments.
Enhance the safety and security of your facility with the new Molded X-Base Table from Norix! Subtle design details molded into the base create visual intrigue and help reinforce a humanizing environment while the distinctive “X” base design creates predetermined spaces for each individual and mitigates opportunities to pass contraband.
Drones
Look Out Above! page 12
Contraband Tech
Combatting Contraband page 20
Trends in Technology High-Tech Security Heightens its Focus page 43
Facility of the Month West Virginia Winner page 36
Trends in Technology
Photo Credit: Hanwha Vision
2024 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Carol Lanham
Stephen Carter
Tamara Clarke
Jeff Dunn
Jeff Goodale
Frank Greene
Gerry Guerrero
Scott Kernan
Roger Lichtman
Ken McGinnis
Gary Mohr
Gregory Offner
Bruce Omtvedt
Beverly Prior
David McRoberts
Cory Salzillo
Lionakis
CGL
CGL
Former Director, Alabama Department of Corrections
HOK STV
HDR
LEO Technologies
AECOM
CGL
CGL
Criminal Justice Consultant
Dewberry
AECOM
Assured Assessments Inc.
WPSS Group
that connect citizens to critical public services, enhancing the quality of life in communities.
Bob Glass has joined HDR Inc. as Director of Planning, Justice. A licensed architect in 29 jurisdictions, Glass brings exceptional strategic planning skills and an unwavering passion for client solutions to this role.
Known for his ability to work closely with clients, Glass seamlessly translates operational desires into comprehensive plans outlining requirements for improvements and operational changes. His commitment to enhancing the quality of life in communities is underscored by his successful management of over 600 technical studies for civic clients across thirty-five states and four countries.
Based in HDR’s Tampa, Fla., architecture studio, he is critical to expanding and supporting the firm’s planning expertise within its justice practice. His prominent projects include the California Health Care Facility, the Maricopa County Intake/Transfer/Release Center and the State of Washington Governor’s Mansion security upgrades.
An industry leader, Glass is a passionate advocate for community involvement. He has presented for various summits and conferences, including the Corrections Summit and the American Institute of ArchitectsCommittee on Architecture for Justice.
Hlavacek, an architect with over 30 years of experience, leads with authenticity, curiosity and resilience to develop innovative, operationally efficient, flexible and future-ready solutions that aim to capture clients’ needs and visions. His professional journey, enriched by his time in dual practice as a licensed structural engineer, is marked by a passion for designs
Based in HDR’s Chicago architecture studio, Hlavacek collaborates across the organization to solve its clients’ public safety facility challenges. He is responsible for growing our public safety design practice, aiming to develop an internal team experienced in all aspects of public safety to expand our existing markets and explore new geographic territories.
His professional portfolio includes several U.S.recognized projects. His project teams have received numerous awards for design excellence from the AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice, including the Davidson County Criminal Justice Center, the InPatient Treatment Center for the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Oswego Police Headquarters. His prominent projects include the Lawton Public Safety Facility and the Romeoville Village Hall and Police Headquarters.
Hlavacek impacts the industry with his thought leadership and community involvement. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Property and Evidence. From 2021-2024, he partnered with the IACP as an instructor for their “Planning, Designing, and Construction of Police Facilities Seminar.” He has authored several articles on pandemic design considerations and future-ready design.
Barnes previously served as warden of Warren Correctional before retiring in 2018.
“Warden Barnes has agreed to come out of retirement and resume his old position, which we greatly appreciate,” Ishee said. “He has more than 30 years of experience as a corrections professional, already proving to be an excellent warden, with high but fair expectations, and I’m sure he will continue to do so.”
As warden, Barnes is responsible for all operations at the Manson facility, which houses approximately 800 male offenders in medium- and minimum-custody housing units. Warren Correctional offers a variety of rehabilitative educational programs, from high-school equivalency courses to At Both Ends of the Leash (ABEL), in which offenders train dogs to assist people with disabilities. Vocational opportunities include a Correction Enterprises plant that manufactures janitorial products.
Barnes began his career in 1987 as a correctional officer at Polk Youth Center. He earned promotions to sergeant in 1992 at Nash Correctional, lieutenant in 1995 at Pasquotank and Craven, captain in 1999 at Pamlico and
Franklin, assistant warden in 2010 at Wayne and Nash and warden from 2016 to 2018 at Warren. Following retirement, he worked for private security firms and as an administrator of the Nash County Detention Center.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology and religious studies from N.C. Wesleyan College, where he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice. He holds an Advanced Corrections Certificate from the N.C. Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission and has completed the NCDAC Correctional Leadership Development Program. He served on the Prison Emergency Response Team (PERT) for 12 years in roles from squad leader to hostage negotiator to the unit’s assistant commander.
Dana Melton was recently honored by the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections DAC) at a special staff awards ceremony for going ‘Above and Beyond’ in the category of Operations.
Melton is a medical records associate at Nash Correctional Institution. However, not only does she work alone in this role at a very busy medical facility like Nash CI, but she became to go-to trainer for other new medical records staff. She assists with vacancies at other facilities and helps set up on-site clinics at Nash and other facilities and assists the region with special projects. She created scheduling templates in OPUS for on-site clinics and is called on regularly as a medical records expert.
The NC Department of Adult Correction recognized outstanding employees on June 27th in a celebration at the McKimmon Center at North Carolina State University.
Joe Bonavolonta, former FBI Boston Field Office Special Agent in Charge was recently appointed to the Board of Advisors at Westwood, Ma.-based contraband detection technology company, RaySecur. Bonavolonta brings more than 28 years of FBI and private sector leadership experience to the company and will offer valuable insights into the current mail security threats faced by public and private-sector organizations. Bonavolonta joins the team with extensive security and threat intelligence expertise spanning organized criminal enterprises, counterterrorism, and homeland security, among others. He is also a managing partner with Sentinel, a global risk and intelligence advisory firm. “I am thrilled to join the RaySecur advisory board,” said Bonavolonta. “I am eager to apply my expertise gained in both the public and private sectors to RaySecur’s work in the private sector to ensure companies and individuals are protected from today’s ever-evolving mail security threats.”
Does your company or organization have people news to share with the industry?
Please drop us a note at cn@wmhmedia.com
KENANSVILLE, N.C. — With the recent ceremonial shoveling of dirt by Duplin County officials, construction is officially underway on its new detention center. The urgently needed venue will replace the county’s current outdated jail.
The new detention center gives Duplin County the space to house inmates not only from nearby counties as well.
Duplin County’s detention center suffered from chronic overcrowding and deterioration. In 2018, Moseley Architects conducted a needs assessment and feasibility study on the county’s detention center. The study included projections for jail capacity, cost estimates, and options for either renovating and expanding the current facility or building a new one.
In 2022, the county hired Moseley Architects to design the new 250-bed detention center, which is scheduled for completion in December 2025. The 57,000-square-foot facility will maximize operational safety for the officers, while also creating a secure environment for the inmates. Six housing units and two segregation units will accommodate Duplin County’s inmates as well as inmates from other counties. The use of an elevated master control room allows for indirect supervision of each housing unit, thus decreasing the need for supervision staff.
The intake and booking areas are conveniently located next to the magistrate’s suite, providing a safe and efficient intake process for inmates. A laundry service room and full-service kitchen, previously off-site, contribute to increased cost savings and operational efficiency. An administrative suite and medical suite are also included.
The county eventually intends to fund a law enforcement center/sheriff’s office that will be attached to the proposed jail. The design team was able to plan and position the jail building on the site to optimize open space for future expansion.
PROJECT TEAM:
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By Greg Offner
This September/October issue of CN, Volume 27, Number 6, is focused on Technology. A few years ago, I had a little fun with this topic, given technology’s ability to induce a caterpillar to butterfly metamorphic change to our industry. I used the caterpillar analogy because technology
change gives me butterflies!
The past is a darn good predictor of the things to come. Past technology footprints are no different. Technology is all about tomorrow. It is evolution driven by the desire to make work life easier. The goal line, which keeps moving, is the development of products and services (yes, Robotics) of what we can, or should
provide in our world. Yes, it is the data driven, digital environment innovation that surrounds us every day that keeps me tossing and turning at night. Technology is driving change, and change is driving technology into Artificial Intelligence, the next evolution.
As the premier security detention company in the United States, CML provides the highest quality SEC integration, DEC installation, and Maintenance & Support for each market we serve. From correctional facilities, to behavioral health centers and courthouses, our team of experts are dedicated to providing timely and cost-effective solutions that meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
Today, most everyone uses technology for banking, financial planning, insurance, property management, infrastructure, security and most dear to my heart, the design and construction of secure facilities. B.I.M. has been a game changer in the design and construction industry! So has electronic communications! E-mail was a game changer. When was the last time any of us sent a registered letter or telegram to a contractor to put them on notice they were behind schedule?
Today, hardly anyone reads an actual “paper copy” of a newspaper or magazine. Personally, I am subscribed to 7 different news services, 3 of whom send me digital issues daily, Morning Brew, The New York Times and The Press of Atlantic City. I also receive several periodicals electronically, Correctional News being one of them!
The question that keeps me up at night, when trying to forecast the future of technology is which new technology will be a “flash in the pan” idea (think Palm Pilot) and which will be a “seismic shift” in the digital marketplace (think Star Wars) for years to come?
It is the new era battle of creativity versus practicality, will we need it and will we use it? Think about the ballad written by Denny Zager and Pete Evans, “In the Year 2525” about a post-apocalyptic version of life in the future. Experts believe the search for what is next will continue indefinitely. I lose sleep over tech stuff we already use today! Mostly because I don’t know how to operate it! Possible future scenarios for technological breakthroughs are driving “what if” think tanks to insomnia. What’s coming will be exciting!
Think what the Pandemic of 2020/2021 did to us socially. It made staying home from work mandatory! Zoom, Face Time, Skype, Teams, all developed so we could communicate via the internet. That is a light-year from Flip Chart and PowerPoint
meetings. Back at the turn of the century through to the late-teens of the 21st century, there was a mantra we had before attending internal meetings; “it’s time for death by PowerPoint!” Sometimes our internal meetings consisted of a 60-slide presentation, and it was not uncommon to see heads bobbing after lunch. One of our Regional managers once quipped “Ezekiel 24:16” about the boss’s meetings. Paraphrased, the Bible passage reads; “with a sudden blow I am taking away the joy in your eyes!” Obviously, the similarity taken from the script of the Quentin Tarantino hit film Pulp Fiction.
Then in the mid to late teens of this century video communications like Zoom, Skype and Facetime were launched and became popular with many businesses. During the quarantine, we used Facetime to visit with our family and friends. Many businesses subscribed to video conferencing providers to share meetings with multiple offices.
When telecommuting became in vogue, so did the half-dressed “boxers and bunny slippers” attendees. Halfdressed become the norm. Talk about nightmares! “They can’t see, so what?” Indeed, some managers and employees dressed for business from the waist
up while participating in video call or Zoom conference. Someone termed the appropriate dress for these tele-meetings as “dressed to undress” as opposed to the term
“dresses for success”.
Welcome Observation
It seems the print media and television commercial advertisements from wellmeaning home security companies present a peace of mind proposal to future customers. “Installing security cameras, doorbells and burglar/panic/duress alarms around your home or business can prevent crime.” I don’t know of any case studies where a video recording of a burglary in progress, or that lawn sign announcing “Protected by Security Alarm” prevented a break-in. Some home alarm systems use motion detecting cameras which are connect to your internet. These can send a message to your phone if there is a possible intruder detected by a motion sensor and are much more effective for detection than a simple camera alarm system. When used appropriately, video surveillances and recordings do have their place in stopping and resolving criminal
activity that is or has already occurred. In a secure facility, the camera is an extra set of eyes and ears, but a camera has never stopped an assault on a Corrections Officer or facility staff. Criminals won’t lose any sleep if they’re photographed.
Perhaps the most common observing devices are not cameras, but ears, listening and monitoring our daily life in our automobiles, smart watches, phones and your prehistoric A.I. device, Alexa! When you ask SIRI for an answer to a question on your “Smart Phone” do you say “Thank You” when you get your answer?
We visited Europe in April 2024 and our entry into Amsterdam and return to the U.S. through the immigration portals was expediated because of Global Entry and our pre-entry facial recognition and fingerprints being in both the U.S. and Interpol database. WOW! A streamlined facial and bio-metric recognition software,
perhaps the next technology absolute for those in custody.
Facial recognition has its critics. What keeps me up at night is the massive amount of data storage required. Some say the data storage issue keeps it from being used by some front-line agencies. However, data base sharing is common among law enforcement agencies. I am not concerned with privacy, mostly because I’m at that age and station where complacency is a lifestyle choice.
Like any technology that involves surveillance, personal privacy rights can become a caffeinated beverage at bedtime. Data breaches can become a serious threat to privacy erosion as well, but it is the potential to misuse the data, particularly when it comes to racial bias that has the most critics.
Many smart phones use facial recognition to unlock their services. Personally, I prefer fingerprints. Call me old fashioned. According to the biometric
experts, Facial Recognition has a 99.92% accuracy rate, many more laud their use because the 3D biometrics are practically “spoof proof!” Regardless of what you use personally, I sleep better knowing I have three-factor authentication on all my financial apps.
The Epitaph of Past Technology
I am aware major tech companies serving the design and construction market sector are tossing and turning over “what’s next?” The downside of the construction industry is it has once again, become stuck in the early 21st century technology like it did in the late 20th century. Perhaps the design and construction industry has too many other issues than to lose sleep over new technology? Bids and costs to construct are showing no signs of retreat. Funding for near term (FY 26 -27) tech projects are once again becoming as rare as waterbeds! Hopefully, new technology may be able to get some shovels in the ground if we can afford to make the change.
On the upside, in the design and construction industry technology has driven safety and quality metrics up. These two critical aspects of construction seem to be improving due to technology and innovation. Technological breakthroughs
have enhanced workplace safety and quality assurance alike! This alone is providing many restful nights to risk managers and OSHA inspectors. Where technology is driving various markets is unpredictable. Healthcare, treatments, vaccine creation, education and transportation seem to have the most traction. Every other market sector is poised to explode! All things considered, the speed with which technology moves, counting sheep via one’s video wristwatch will not be necessary. The video wristwatch will likely be outdone by a future, empirical metaphysical method of nonverbal communication. Can the Vulcan Mind Meld be far behind?
Greg Offner is a Criminal Justice Consultant serving the Planning, Design and Construction Community, and a valued member of the CN Editorial Advisory Board.
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GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. — Through facility reorganizations, a zero-tol erance policy to drugs and contraband, en hanced community partnerships, and new leadership, the Virginia Department of Cor rections’ (VADOC) Greensville Correction al Center reports continued improvement in its aim to provide effective incarceration that helps ensure long-term public safety in Virginia.
“I’m pleased with the progress Greens ville Correctional Center has made since Summer 2023, when the facility faced oper ational challenges,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson. “Public safety agencies must meet these challenges head-on, and I believe that the Department, our Eastern Region Operations team, leadership at Greensville Correctional Center, and our corrections team members across the state have done just that. Our agency measures itself by six key values: Safety, Integrity, Accountability, Respect, Learning, and Service. Greensville Correctional Center, our other facilities, and our probation and parole offices throughout Virginia continue to embrace these values.”
\Greensville CC’s inmate population is now split into three clusters with sepa rate leadership structures to help further ensure safety and security for both correc tions team members and the inmate popu lation. Each cluster has its own warden and assistant warden. This is necessary due to Greensville’s population of 2,371 (accord ing to the June population report). Greens ville’s population is nearly 1,200 more than the second-most populated VADOC facility. Each cluster also features its own visitation room, in order to further enhance security and operational efficiency.
\The VADOC and Greensville Correc tional Center have a zero-tolerance policy for the introduction of drugs and contra band. Greensville has conducted four inten sive interdiction operations with Virginia State Police between November 2023 and June 2024. The facility has also worked diligently to deter the introduction of drugs through front entry, drones, and other meth ods, while ensuring all corrections team members are also held accountable. The
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By Zach Chouteau
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…yet another high-tech drone device with designs on delivering illegal goods to your facility from above? The drone menace doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, and facilities serious about covering all their security bases are turning more and more to high-tech tools totally designed to identify and deter the evolving threats. With that in mind, CN touched base with a pair of expert minds in the field, beginning with Joshua Conklin, Chief Revenue Officer with AirSight.
Why is drone defense so important for today’s correctional facilities and how has the drone threat evolved in recent years?
Conklin: The cost of commercial drones continues to decrease while the capabilities are increasing. Today, a drone that can be acquired for under $2000 can carry a firearm and over 150 rounds of ammunition. As agencies continue to improve entry and egress security, the traditional methods of contraband incursion are becoming more difficult, and flying contraband into prisons is becoming easier. It can be done from miles away, and without detection systems, the pilots are virtually unstoppable.
How has anti-drone tech progressed in an effort to keep up with the rising drone threat?
Conklin: The technology continues to improve with radio frequency (RF) detection and the emergence of remote ID, and radars are becoming more sophisticated in terms of their ability to classify things in the air, so planes, birds, other items in the sky, are not seen as alarms that end up locking down correctional facilities.
What is the most important consideration for facilities adding or ramping up their anti-drone efforts?
Conklin: Many agencies are waiting for the solutions to be “perfect” or waiting for legislation to pass that will allow them to shoot drones down, but starting now and even starting small can make a big dent in the amount of contraband coming in through drones. Even if you only stop half of the flights, you double the price inside if the perpetrators are losing half of their payloads and RF-only detection systems can be obtained for a relatively small price-tag.
What is AirSight’s main focus when it comes to helping facilities defend against drones?
Conklin: We focus on providing a software system that takes in data from a variety of different sensors to provide the most comprehensive coverage available, regardless of the technology used in flight. We identify, classify, and alert agencies when a threat has cross into their perimeter, so they take action to stop the contraband, and potentially catch the pilot.
What do you see on the horizon for the drone threat and potential new technologies to defend against it in the next five to10 years?
Conklin: Drones are only getting better. With the things happening in Ukraine and the Middle East, you can bet that the things developed on the field of battle, will find their way into correctional systems.
CN also reached out to Mary-Lou Smulders, CMO and Head of Government Affairs for Dedrone, to see what her firm is up to when it comes to throttling the threat of drones.
What types of contraband can Dedrone help prevent from entering a facility and how?
Smulders: Dedrone can prevent prison entry of any item carried by a drone, therefore as drones become more capable the options for the mal-intended only grow. Examples of contraband that have already been dropped by drones into facilities include tobacco, marijuana, heroin, other illegal substances, wire cutters, cell phones, and weapons. These small uncrewed aerial vehicles can easily bypass security installations by simply flying over the top of them into a facility. As drones become cheaper, have greater range and payload and become quieter, this issue will only increase.
Dedrone helps prevent drone incursions at 50-plus correctional facilities by detecting, identifying, and tracking drones through its DedroneTracker software. DedroneTracker can even give warnings before drones take off. Then, via DedroneSensors and cameras, Dedrone helps security officers track the drone, identify the payload and locate the pilot to quickly mitigate the threat. Finally, the platform enables security professionals to find patterns, including launch locations, timing and more to implement better security in the future.
What are the latest technological developments and trends?
Smulders: Recent technological advancements have made drones cheaper, quieter, and easier to fly, while also increasing their range and payload capacity. This makes it easier than ever for contraband to be smuggled into correctional facilities. These drones pose a persistent and growing threat, as they enable the delivery of drugs, cell phones, weapons, and other illicit items that can significantly destabilize the security environment within prisons. Inmates under the influence or in possession of contraband weapons not only endanger themselves but also the safety of fellow inmates and staff. Even the possession of an item that others do not have can disrupt the balance of power within a facility, with drone incursions often leading to lockdowns, which in themselves cause further operational strain
Globally, we are seeing a sharp increase in these drone incursions. In Pakistan, for instance, a drone was used to smuggle 4kg of heroin into a facility, highlighting how payload capacities are growing and intensifying the severity of these threats. Additionally, there is a notable shift in the types of drones being used in these incidents. Where previously DJI drones were the most commonly detected, we are now seeing a broader array of brands, including Autel drones and custom-built DIY drones, which adds complexity to detection and defense efforts.
What have facilities been asking for? Are they using drones themselves or primarily just drone detection?
Smulders: We see the most savvy prison security professionals using both counterdrone detection solutions as well as drones themselves for continuous patrol and even as a forward security team in an extreme danger situation. As a starting point, proactive security teams can use drone detection as a diagnostic tool, building intelligence around the scope and frequency of the problem by auditing airspace, and then helping translate that information into strategic security protocol changes. Drone detection solutions should also be able to identify “friend” vs. “foe” drones. For example, Dedron, which fully complies with local and federal laws, is easily integrated into a wider security ecosystem.
Detects contraband concealed under clothing and in body cavities Full-body scan in less than 4 seconds
Subject remains stationary, no conveyer belt
Has drone detection become more common in prisons? Is it considered essential yet?
Smulders: Drone activity in prisons has become a well-recognized threat, and the use of drone detection systems is increasingly common. However, as security teams implement detection for standard drones, we’re seeing criminals adapt by using more obscure models that evade basic detection systems. This evolving threat highlights the critical need for advanced drone detection in correctional facilities.
Drones pose significant risks beyond just contraband delivery — they can be used to intimidate visitors, gather intelligence on facility layouts, or track officer movements,
all of which can facilitate further criminal activity. Given these risks, drone detection has become essential for future prison security.
Currently, Dedrone is trusted by over 50 correctional facilities, and we anticipate that drone detection will soon become standard across most Departments of Corrections (DOCs).
What is the biggest challenge/ impediment?
Smulders: We are seeing exponential growth of drones in our skies, across a variety of industries. As drone use rises, so does the need to effectively monitor, track and mitigate drone threats. Drone detection is complex. Drones are, by definition, disconnected from the bad actor and come with various control mechanisms.
Additionally, like and type of cybersecurity, criminals are constantly creating new ways to evade the latest detection technology. New methods like autonomous flight and spoofing are already used outside the US and will surely come to our shores. Security teams must be increasingly aware of how to detect and locate the various drone types and also differentiate the drones that are a part of their program while exposing unauthorized or hostile drones in their area. Our DedroneTracker platform shines a light on the “blind spot” of suspicious drones, ensuring airspace is safe from unwanted aircraft. Dedrone offers tools to help mitigate threats, putting an organization confidently in charge of its own airspace security.
Any final thoughts on drone detection today?
Smulders: Drone detection in prisons has
become essential as the threat from drones continues to escalate. A notable example occurred last year when a drug-filled drone, intended for a Virginia prison, missed its target and landed outside a school, making national headlines. The drone was carrying tobacco, marijuana, cellphones, and even a USB-C converter cable, highlighting the sophistication of these contraband deliveries. This incident is not isolated — international correctional facilities report a sharp rise in drone-based contraband deliveries to inmates.
According to Dedrone data, drone sightings have increased by 217% since pre-Covid times, underscoring the persistent and growing nature of this threat. Drones not only disrupt prison operations but also compromise the safety of both inmates and correctional officers. In addition to smuggling contraband, drones can be misused to intimidate visitors or gather intelligence on officer movements and facility perimeters, potentially aiding future misconduct.
However, there is hope. Facilities that have proactively deployed advanced drone detection systems have seen significant results, including the interception of drones and arrests of those responsible. These actions act as strong deterrents, reducing the frequency of drone drops.
For more insights, check out our webinar on best practices for airspace security in correctional facilities: https://l.dedrone. com/en/airspace-security-best-practicesfor-correction-facilities-webinar
Have news or insights of your own to share on today’s anti-drone tech tools?
Please let us know at cn@wmhmedia.com.
CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampexpand upon our already successful work to strengthen community-based services to people who need them,” said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. “Through this waiver, DHHS has been able to work with community providers to increase the services covered by Medicaid. We are connecting more people to services, leading to better outcomes, fewer overdoses, and reduced reliance on hospital emergency departments. We are also excited to work with our colleagues at the NH Department of Corrections on an innovative new program enabled by this waiver.”
bility, wellness, and recovery; and reduce overdose deaths. Community Re-Entry is a core initiative of the DHHS Roadmap 20242025, as part of the “Promote Thriving
Communities” strategic commitment.
“I am thrilled that the state’s 1115a waiver has been approved,” said New Hampshire Department of Corrections Commissioner
Helen Hanks. “When I approached the Department of Health and Human Services in See Healthcare News, page 18 →
Harding believes everyone deserves to feel safe and secure. Our digital intercom system brings this belief to reality by connecting people and information together
The 1115a Waiver positions New Hampshire to be among the first states to implement Community Re-Entry, a new program to provide Medicaid coverage to incarcerated individuals diagnosed with a mental illness, with a specific target to those with a substance use disorder, for 45 days prior to their date of release. DHHS is working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (DOC) to implement Community Re-Entry within the state correctional system. The goals of the program are to support people’s health needs during the critical period when they transition back to their home communities; reduce recidivism, which has a burden on state and local budgets; support successful long-term sta-
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Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. (ACH), the nation’s largest jail contract management company, recently announced its newest partnership with Sarpy County Jail in Papillion, Neb.
This collaboration marks ACH’s 16th contract in the state of Nebraska. A trusted partner to county jails, ACH provides access to a higher standard of care across correctional settings. Sarpy County is widely respected for their dedication to detainee welfare and staff training. By partnering with ACH, they are showing dedication in implementing a better environment for both detainees and staff.
Other strategic partnerships include Advanced Inmate Medical Management, LLC, Spark Training, LLC, and USA Medical & Psychological Staffing, S.C.
Advanced Inmate Medical Management, LLC (AIMM)’s electronic medical records program, DetainEMR, was created by a jail doctor and nurse for use in the correctional setting. DetainEMR makes the lives of medical teams easier by improving communication, accessibility to records, and security of patient data. Learn more at www.detainemr.com.
Spark Training, LLC is a successful, nationally recognized center of excellence that sets the standard for training and compliance through high-quality programs and quality improvement. Training is provided in-person at annual Jail Summit events, online through an interactive web-based learning management system, and on-site by client request. Learn more at sparktraining. us.
USA Medical & Psychological Staffing, S.C. is successful in saving lives by leading a team of professionals which implement established contracts and processes, ensures compliance of standards, and the execution of solutions. The team uses professionalism, integrity, commitment, and problem solving to provide high quality training to employees, work in line with divisional budgets and fill contracted positions with quality em-
ployees. Learn more at usamed.org.
“We are proud to welcome Sarpy County Jail to our growing family of partners,” says Jessica Young, Esq., President & CEO of ACH. “Their shared dedication to the individuals in their care make them an ideal collaborator in our joint efforts to enhance health care services for county jails nationwide.”
ACH is a nine-time Fortune Magazine’s Great Place to Work certified company and was recently awarded its second Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics for demonstrating best practices, leadership, social responsibility, and high standards of ethics that benefit their clients, employees, and communities.
Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. (ACH) is the nation’s largest jail contract management company, managing contracts for health care teams and customized programs in a variety of correctional settings, including county jails, juvenile detention centers, mental health units, work release centers, and drug rehabilitation centers across 22 states.
Healthcare News, from page 15
the spring of 2022 regarding seeking this initiative, I was encouraged by the enthusiastic response and support I received. This initiative will allow us to preserve the excellent work we do with people during their incarceration surrounding substance use disorder and other mental health disorders. It will help us build a stronger bridge between the transition from incarceration to community healthcare providers and peer supports. The first year after an individual’s release from incarceration is a crucial time in preventing their return. This waiver will improve a person’s continuity of care and will provide better supports for people in navigating their longterm healthcare services.”
DOC and DHHS will implement the Community Re-Entry in state correctional facilities beginning January 1, 2025. The state expects to expand the program to the county correction departments to increase the number of individuals who will have access to the healthcare needed be more successful in their transitions into the community as well as their capacity to meaningfully reenter the workforce.
By CN Staff
Correctional facilities of all sizes have no choice but to navigate the threat of weapons, drugs, cellphones and other off-limits items trying to make their way inside. To learn more about how facilities are mitigating the threat of illegal contraband, Correctional News checked in with Westwood, Ma.-based RaySecur and State College, Pa.based STVS as they shared their insights regarding the use of technology to help stop the flow of illegal goods from entering secure environments.
RaySecur specializes in contraband detection technology and has developed breakthrough imaging technology based on millimeter waves. The company’s MailSecur™ systems provide real-time, 3D imag-
ing to detect even the smallest threats – a vast improvement over traditional static 2D X-ray scanning. The company has recently seen an even greater interest from correctional departments for its contraband detection systems, according to Alex Sappok, CEO of RaySecur.
“We’ve seen an increased demand for our MailSecur T-ray screening outside of the mail room,” said Sappok. “There has been an increasing need for its use in cell searches, intake areas, and visitation areas to detect drugs laced on paper that come into all areas of a prison, not just the mail room. Once inside the prison, it is very easy for drug-laced papers to hide in plain sight in cells since it looks like regular paper.”
While new threats are a constant for correctional facility operators, Sappok explained that a recent trend he has encountered is the use of drug-laced paper entering secure environments and the smuggling of drugs in liquid form.
“We are seeing an emerging trend of smuggling laced papers into prisons via other means outside of the mail room. These drug-laced papers are easy to conceal and hard to detect – carried by people, documents handed to inmates in court, even drones flying them in,” explained Sappok. “Technology is needed to detect these papers once inside the facility regardless of how they make it in.”
To address this issue, among others, the MailSecur® T-ray imaging tool provides a vital solution not addressed by traditional X-ray screening technology — the ability to detect the most elusive mail threats. Standard methods of mail screening, such as X-ray or chemical detection, are not sensitive enough to effectively catch threats like liquids, powders and chemically treated paper. MailSecur employs safe T-rays to “see inside” letters and packages with live 3D imaging. It detects all nine of the DHS designated substances compared to only three out of nine for X-ray. Remote screening capabilities are built-in with around-the-clock access to former military explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts.
Correctional News also spoke with Barry Johnson, CEO of STVS, a leader in security screening and contraband detection solutions to learn more about its line of products and solutions to support the safety and security of inmates, staff, and visitors. Currently active in more than 30 states, STVS provides comprehensive security screening and contraband detection solutions to corrections facilities, law enforcement, rehabilitation centers, and other secure locations.
To meet the needs of its clients, STVS recently announced a distribution agreement with Garrett Metal Detectors. As a result, STVS will supply handheld and walkthrough metal detectors to its customers nationwide.
“STVS is a technology warehouse and our work with Garrett [Metal Detectors] is another example of giving our customers multiple technologies to customize a system that meets their unique requirements and keeps contraband out,” said Johnson. “There is no silver bullet to security. It takes an integrated, multilayered approach to achieve success. That is how we built STVS – loyal to the customer, not the manufacturer.”
Along with the latest partnership and growing distribution of the company’s metal detectors, STVS’s contraband detection solutions also include high-tech X-ray inspection systems.
Engineered for rapid deployment – uncrating and commissioning taking less than three hours – the dual view CX6040 X-ray
inspection system accurately detects weapons, narcotics, and other contraband concealed in bags, luggage, and parcels.
Most recently, STVS released new remote monitoring software which, among other benefits, facilitates maximum system uptime by allowing service teams to diagnose and remedy many issues without setting foot onsite. When combined with an STVS Body Scanner and Garrett Metal Detector, CX6040 is a reliable part of a multilayered screening system to keep contraband out.
“These new capabilities are part of the STVS commitment to keep [correctional] systems running while minimizing downtime and the chance for contraband to enter,” said Johnson. “STVS empowers its customers – giving them complimentary technologies and tools to implement a successful security program.”
Technology has certainly created greater efficiencies within correctional settings. Having the proper security and detection systems in correctional settings is essential and lifesaving for staff, inmates, and visitors alike. As technology is constantly evolving, it is important to understand the growing threats and trends within secure facilities and how technology providers are adapting to stay ahead.
Contraband detection solutions can serve as the first line of defense within a correctional setting. Facility operators face unique challenges working with their populations, and having dedicated and knowledgeable firms tackling contraband detection can not only save operators time and money, but also increase safety for all.
To learn more about contraband detection solutions and the providers mentioned in this article, please contact cn@wmhmedia.com.
By CN Staff
YesCare has served correctional facilities across the state of Florida; and it is now poised to bolster medical and behavioral services for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office
YesCare, pioneer and premier provider of correctional healthcare in the U.S., has been selected to provide comprehensive medical and behavioral healthcare services within the Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Southwest Florida.
The contract with a population of approximately 800 in two facilities, the Naples Jail Center and Immokalee Jail Center, commenced on June 1. Its addition increases the company’s synergies across the state as YesCare provides correctional healthcare services across Florida including the Gulf Coast, Central Florida, Space Coast, and the Panhan- dle.
“YesCare is pleased to extend our patient-centered healthcare, holistic care, and addiction treatment services to Collier County in partnership with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office” said Jeff Sholey, CEO of YesCare. “We are thankful for their trust and look forward to bettering lives and outcomes for our patients.”
Added Sholey, “YesCare wants to continue to be the leading partner in the Sunshine State to improve health out- comes and reentry services to benefit not only the population we serve but the people across the state. We’re excited to begin this work in Southwest Florida.”
As a leading U.S. correctional healthcare provider, YesCare synthesizes best practices and industry-leading approaches to correctional healthcare to provide the very best care possible to incarcerated individuals at competitive rates for our government partners.
In its behavioral health role, YesCare offers comprehensive behavioral health services based on early and thorough screening and assessment of distress, disorder and
risk. Prevention, treat- ment, health education, continuity of care and community reintegration services are central to our approach.
YesCare is an industry leader providing comprehensive healthcare and reentry services to incarcerated individuals. For more than 40 years, the YesCare team has provided expert medical, dental, and
behavioral health services to more than 1 million patients at 475 correc- tional facilities across the country. Its mission is to provide exceptional care, put patients’ health and safety first, and break the cycle of recidi- vism while helping improve the communities where they live and work.
Singapore served as host of the International Corrections and Prisons Association’s annual conference for 2024.
By Stephen Carter
With all four techno-savvy sons long gone from the nest, I use the phrase “just embrace technology” with great caution. Their mother and I are not completely unfamiliar with the delete button, but attempting to connect devices to a new internet provider does often introduce “sailor-style” expressions in our vocabulary. Essentially, however, we have no choice: embrace it or cease to exist in the digital world. Every day, I am more thankful for our 11-year-old grandson who is fearless and formidable navigating the ubiquitous communication and entertainment devices. Problem is, he lives 2,500 miles away...
So, there is something to the notion that any effective advancements in correctional technology will require a group embrace. I am writing this afterhours from Singapore at the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) annual conference. I came prepared to be dazzled and have not been disappointed from the way registration was managed to mind-blowing sessions on current and future embracing of technology.
But before I briefly touch on learning how to hug technology, just a few data points on
this year’s conference. ICPA was officially launched in Vancouver, Canada in November 1998 and since then, 26 conferences have been held around the world with Singapore the only city to host us twice. We had 1,024 delegates representing 79 countries. The program includes 139 plenary and individual panel presentations on topics such as Digital Services for Incarcerated Persons to A Primer on AI and Machine Learning in Corrections. But least I mislead, this year’s conference theme is not about technology.
The conference theme is “Enabling Desistence: Beyond Recidivism”. Right away, the term “desistence” was defined as a process that involves both the individual and the community and how to bridge the connection. Desistence is not a program but a change in perspective which enables rehabilitation.
Desistence is not a program, but a change in perspective which enables rehabilitation.
The term is not regularly used when speaking of the U.S. corrections system. We have an abundance of programs focused on a change in an individual’s behavior, but not so much in changing the community’s willingness to accept a re-entering individual.
Countless reasons can be given for the community refraining from accepting a rehabilitated person back home. Honestly, in many of our states those “reasons” are codified in law. With so many dedicated advocacy groups trying to help bridge the distance from the prison gate to the factory gate, most of us elect not to have skin in that game, and if we do, our willingness to participate is usually based on what we learn from the media, print or electronic.
A most inspiring aspect of reentry (and the underpinning of the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) in this city/state is their unwavering commitment to informing and then engaging the community in the process of reentry. The origins of the world-famous Yellow Ribbon Project was aided and abetted by the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree” (YRP) which was sung by Tony Orlando at the 2004 Winter ACA meeting in, you guessed
One of the best sessions and the most memorable talks was on the need for corrections to move from crisis management to purposeful change.
it, Orlando, Fla. Representatives of the SPS were in attendance and a literal life changing movement for the community, not to mention the inmates, was clarified.
Dissertations have been written on the many aspects of the YRP (as it has become known) and this quickly conceived column is hardly the place to examine in detail any of the many dimensions of this reverse-engineered approach to rehabilitation. Simply stated, the community was first educated on why and how to welcome its previously incarcerated members back as contributing participants followed by individualized programs for incarcerated persons.
As the community became aware of the role of rehabilitation through countless events and educational platforms, specialized programs were developed behind the walls that would ensure that with a receptive community, the reentering formerly incarcerated person truly could be welcomed home. The yellow ribbon is that simple symbol that embraces (and ties) the individual and the community.
The media plays no small role both through informing the community and preparing the incarcerated person for the eventual “meet-up.” To say that there is room for dialogue between those reporting on correctional matters and those whose opinion on correctional practices are completely based (or biased) on what has been disseminated through various forms of media is a vast understatement. Neither the reported nor the reporters have it right.
Preparing the community for reentry is critical and the media is best positioned to facilitate that critical step. Technology is having an enormous impact on how and what is reported, and thus, on public opinion. Corrections, in the sense of a system, has to invest more time embracing media technology so that the message is factual and transformative.
One of the best sessions and the most
memorable talks was on the need for corrections to move from crisis management to purposeful change. Iridian Grenada is a formerly incarcerated person (decades worth) in Canada and offered that if we want to substantially alter the message, “hire five 14-year-old girls with cell phones” to craft our message.
Now, that is innovative thinking given with tongue in cheek, but with an acknowledgement that for the correctional community to get beyond the mostly neg-
ative message that the media is obsessed with, we may have to embrace technology differently. I have a 14-year-old granddaughter and she is more than up to the task, cell phone and all. Best wishes from Singapore!
Stephen Carter, AICP is the executive vice president and global strategic development officer at Miamibased CGL Companies.
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PEVELY, Mo. — KAI 360 Construction Services is providing construction management services on a much-anticipated, new forensic crime lab in Jefferson County, Mo., with Hastings+Chivetta Architects serving as the architect of record. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility to be built on Mason Circle Drive in Pevely was held on May 6, 2024. When completed, the new 10,500-square-foot lab will adjoin an existing evidence storage facility on the site.
The $11.5 million facility will reduce the turnaround time for evidence testing for all of the county’s law enforcement agencies. For years, evidence collected in Jefferson County, located about 30 minutes south of St. Louis City, was shipped to the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab for testing, with turn-aroundtimes for results ranging from several months to up to a year in some cases.
Jefferson County’s new lab design includes areas for processing DNA evidence, vehicles, fingerprints, drug tests and firearms. A separate area will be designated for computer crime investigations. The lab is expected to be completed in 2025. K&S Associates Inc. is the general contractor on the project.
“Jefferson County continues to invest in public safety to make sure our citizens are safe, and with this new investment in the crime lab, we will now have the opportunity to prioritize cases from our own community,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak. “This single investment is not only important for the citizens of Jefferson County, but also for the St. Louis region, as we know criminals can traverse boundaries.”
Revolutionary technology that brings a new wave of benefits for incarcerated individuals, staff, and facilities
Inspire is more than a powerful communication device. It offers incarcerated individuals the opportunity for personal development, responsibility, and selfimprovement. The platform features customized applications in the areas of communication, entertainment, efficiency, and education.
Inspire Tablets calm the corrections environment by helping incarcerated individuals turn long stretches of idle, negative time into active, engaging, and productive time. The result is a population that is more focused on successful reentry and an environment with fewer confrontations, reduced contraband, and less violence.
Services on ViaPath Technologies’ Inspire Tablets include, but are not limited to:
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Inspire transforms how incarcerated individuals spend their time, how corrections officers handle their job duties, and how family and friends communicate with loved ones. By providing applications that build selfreliance and self-esteem, the Inspire Tablet program introduces powerful incentives for promoting positive behavior within the incarcerated population. The changes that have occurred thanks to the introduction of tablets makes one thing certain—Inspire is a far more useful innovation than correctional facilities ever thought possible.
ViaPath provides more than 700,000 tablets tablets to facilities across the US.
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Galveston, Texas-based ModCorr has recently announced several key hires to support the company’s growth and demand in the marketplace. ModCorr provides adaptable, high-quality corrections-grade housing and support facilities throughout the country.
The company’s innovative modular units match the strength and durability of traditional site-built quality while delivering enhanced security and compliance with all relevant building and operations standards. “Each unit is built in a controlled environment, allowing for greater precision, quality control, and efficiency,” explained ModCorr President Buddy Johns. “This approach significantly minimizes potential delays due to weather or other on-site complications, and our modules can be built concurrently with site preparation, effectively reducing overall project timelines and costs,” said Johns.
ModCorr offers a range of customizable options to meet the unique needs of each facility, from its high-security MaxMod units, designed for maximum containment and control, to its DormMod units, which provide a more normative living environment. Each unit can be tailored with a variety of interior services and security features, allowing for flexibility in design and functionality.
The interest from the marketplace has been overwhelmingly positive, explained Johns. “Our clients benefit from a streamlined construction process, reduced on-site disruption, and a versatile, scalable solution that addresses the diverse requirements of modern correctional facilities. Our commitment to quality, security, and innovation ensures that we provide facilities that not only meet but exceed industry standards, delivering peace of mind and operational efficiency to our customers,” he concluded.
With ModCorr’s success, growth trajectory, and response to market demand, Johns has turned to seasoned industry professionals Cory Paterson, Ross Cooper, Andy Rogler, and Jake Wolf, to support its clients and vision for the future.
As the company continues to expand its reach throughout corrections, detention, behavioral / mental health, correctional healthcare, and other emerging markets, the recent additions of industry professionals come equipped with decades of knowledge and track records of successful project management and delivery.
Cory W. Paterson has joined ModCorr as the company’s new Vice President of Precast Operations. Paterson is a seasoned business development and preconstruction professional with extensive experience in construction and corrections. He has held notable roles such as Managing Director of Busi-
ness Development for Argyle Security, consulting on detention and security electronic contracting in the Eastern U.S., and Director of Business Development for Rotondo Weirich Companies, managing correctional projects in the Southern U.S., Canada, and internationally. Paterson excels in managing correctional projects, partnering with industry leaders, and assisting with total precast concrete systems.
Ross Cooper has joined ModCorr has the Vice President of Construction Operations. Cooper, a Justice (Corrections) and Construction Management professional, has extensive experience and a proven record of successfully overseeing multi-million-dollar construction projects for government and private-sector clients nationwide. Cooper’s expertise includes client relations, managing onsite manpower of up to 700, and leading multiple projects simultaneously. He is backed by strong credentials and a history of delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.
Andy Rogler is an accomplished financial executive with extensive experience in multi-industry financial and operational management. Currently serving as the Vice President of Operational Performance for ModCorr, Rogler has a proven track record in strategic business planning, budgeting, and compliance. With a career spanning over two decades, he has held key leadership positions, including Chief Financial Officer at Southern Folger Detention Equipment Company and Executive VP at Argyle Security, Inc. Andrew is known for his expertise in financial forecasting, process development, and acquisition integration.
Jake Wolf has joined the company as a Vice President and brings over 26 years of extensive experience in staff development and management, business development, construction, estimating, procurement, and project management. His expertise spans multiple sectors, including education, hospitality, industrial, healthcare, high-rise buildings, airports, complex renovations, and financial institutions. Wolf’s comprehensive construction and management background enables him to adeptly identify stakeholder needs, align them with project budgets, and guide his team toward positive and successful outcomes. His unwavering commitment to project quality, combined with his broad experience with both large and small projects, offers a unique perspective to the design, construction, management, and staff development processes.
“The recent addition of our key leadership hires will allow ModCorr to position itself even stronger in the marketplace while creating increased opportunities for expansion and ongoing client success,” said Johns. “With our team of experts, we are committed to delivering cost-effective, safe, efficient, and high-quality solutions to the industry.”
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By CN Staff
Organized in 1994, the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators is a national non-profit organization created to improve juvenile justice systems, enhance local correctional and residential facilities and programs, and promote improved long-term outcomes for youth and their families. CJJA represents the state juvenile justice system CEOs, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and various local jurisdictions across the country.
The Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA), which marks its 30th year in 2024, had plenty more to celebrate at its summer meeting in Nashville in August—hailing some true standouts in the area of juvenile justice.
Among the honorees was Dr. Larome Myrick, honored with the prestigious President’s Award. A transformational leader with over 20 years of experience in criminal justice, public health, and human services, he currently serves as the Executive Director of Juvenile Justice for the State of Rhode Island, where he provides visionary leadership and oversight for the entire system, including the Rhode Island Training School and the Juvenile Probation Division. Throughout his career, Dr. Myrick has championed juvenile justice reform, equity, and inclusion, and has made significant contributions at the state and national levels.
Dr. Myrick is a skilled and strategic leader with a proven track record of success. In his role as Executive Director, he has spearheaded critical initiatives that have resulted in a 60% reduction in admissions to the Training School and a shift towards more community-based alternatives. He has also played a key role in developing and implementing race equity plans within the department, ensuring that all services are delivered in a fair and just manner.
Dr. Myrick’s leadership extends beyond Rhode Island. He currently serves as the Northeast Regional Director for the CJJA and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair for the organization. In these roles, he works collaboratively with colleagues from across the country to develop and share best practices in juvenile justice reform.
He is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and racial equity. He has served on the Governor’s Criminal Justice Work Group and has worked with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to ensure that juvenile justice reforms are inclusive and address the needs of all youth. He is also actively involved in numerous organizations dedicated to DEIB, including the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and the Rhode Island for Community and Justice Board.
Dr. Myrick holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Capella University, where his research focused on desistance among formerly incarcerated women. He also has a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Social Sciences. In addition
to his leadership roles, Dr. Myrick is a sought-after speaker and has served as a guest lecturer at universities across the country, including Harvard University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Toledo.
Another big difference-maker honored in the field was Jessica Moncada, who received the 2024 Edward J. Loughran Outstanding Leadership Award from the CJJA. The award recognizes her leadership and commitment to implementing the mission values and goals of CJJA.
Moncada has dedicated over 17 years to the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, where she currently serves as the Quality Improvement Director. Her experience in the juvenile justice field has been instrumental in driving positive change, enhancing the department’s programs and services, and ensuring high standards of care for Idaho’s youth. Jessica’s focus is always on continual improvement for the department, and she motivates those around her to do the same.
Outside of her professional life, Jessica is a devoted mother of two boys, and enjoys spending her free time immersed in literature and exploring new travel destinations.
Along with these two outstanding individuals, The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services’ Thrive Academy was presented with the 2024 Inspiration Innovation Award.
This esteemed recognition honors the program’s outstanding achievements in juvenile justice innovation. The Inspirational Innovation Award is a prestigious recognition created by the CJJA to celebrate and honor outstanding achievements in the realm of juvenile justice innovation. This accolade is bestowed upon individuals, teams, or organizations whose groundbreaking contributions have not only pushed the boundaries of what is possible but have also left an indelible mark in the juvenile justice field.
The Thrive Academy is a data-informed, youth development and violence intervention program that is implemented in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, and Prince George’s County.
“We were honored to have Olusola Ogunranti, Executive Director of Safety Services, and Clinton Lacey from the Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement (CM3) accept this award on behalf of DJS at the CJJA Summer Business Meeting recently held in Nashville. It’s an honor to be recognized by CJJA and we will continue our mission to improve juvenile justice in Maryland,” read a statement from the Maryland DJS.
By CN Staff
The Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) has released The First Year of Pell Restoration: A Snapshot of Quality, Equity, and Scale in Prison Education Programs. The first nationwide assessment of its kind, the report provides valuable insight into each state/jurisdiction’s strengths and weaknesses as corrections agencies and their college partners work to launch new prison education programs (PEPs) under federal regulations that took effect on July 1, 2023.
The restoration of Pell Grant eligibility for people in prison mobilized colleges, corrections agencies, state higher education offices, and advocates across the country to lay the groundwork necessary for the expansion of postsecondary education in prison. As reported in The First Year of Pell Restoration report, all states, the Bureau of Prisons, and Puerto Rico now have a process in place for assessing PEP proposals from colleges. Colleges interested in launching a PEP that utilizes Pell Grant funds must first gain approval from the state corrections agency or oversight entity, after which the college’s accreditor must approve the PEP and finally, the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Based on Vera’s technical assistance work, more than 50 new PEPs have been approved by corrections agencies in the last year and currently await ED review.
Despite these encouraging signs, considerable challenges persist. To date, only one PEP has been approved by ED and no state scored the highest category across all the metrics. The information shared through The First Year of Pell Restoration report should thus provide colleges and corrections agencies with a roadmap for improvement and encourage stakeholders to plan for robust implementation. Vera hopes that as jurisdictions enter the subsequent years of Pell restoration, colleges and corrections agencies will hold themselves, and each other, to ever higher standards.
“It’s been 30 years since college was consistently available in prison. We are at the cusp of a new era of opportunity. Building out quality higher education in prisons will take time but based on our findings, we’re on our way,” said Ruth Delaney, director of Vera’s Unlocking Potential initiative. “While the report highlights many areas for improvement, it also shows that innovation is happening in all kinds of states—from red to blue, with prison populations that range in size and demographic makeup. We’re eager to see how the quality and equity of opportunities offered in prison improve as more prison education programs gain approval and launch in the years ahead.”
Access to college in prison has begun to rebound from the effects of the 1994 Crime Bill, which banned incarcerated people’s eligibility for Pell Grants and resulted in a steep drop in the number of college programs operating in prisons, from more than 770 in the
Surveys indicate that more than 70% of those in prison are interested in postsecondary education.
early 1990s to only eight by 1997. In 2016, ED launched the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative (SCP) to examine the benefits of offering postsecondary education in prison and tapped Vera to deliver technical assistance to participating colleges and corrections agencies. Vera was part of a coalition that advocated for a federal law that would repeal the ban on Pell Grants and reinstate them; the law passed in December 2020. Due to the policy change, which took effect on July 1, 2023, the Second Chance Pell Experiment has concluded.
The First Year of Pell Reinstatement includes the final outcomes from the Second Chance Pell Experiment (academic year 2022 to 2023). Between 2016 and 2023, more than 45,000 people in prison have enrolled in college and earned more than 18,000 credentials through SCP. Vera is continuing to support SCP colleges as they transition to meet the new PEP regulations and with corrections agencies as they establish processes to review new PEPs and strategically expand access to postsecondary education in prisons.
Vera estimates that more than 750,000 people in prison—about two-thirds of the prison population—may be eligible for Pell Grants, and surveys indicate that more than 70 percent of those in prison are interested in postsecondary education. Widespread access to postsecondary education in prison makes corrections facilities safer for the people who live and work in prisons, improves students’ sense of self-worth, reduces the odds of recidivism, increases graduates’ employment and earning potential on release, and ultimately advances racial equity in our communities while saving taxpayers money.
The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change.
tional archetype of justice buildings, they can create spaces that are welcoming, dignified, and empowering for all. Furthermore, collaboration fosters a culture of learning and innovation within the architectural community. By working together, practices can exchange ideas, techniques, and best practices, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in design, including new technology and flexibility for future growth. This spirit of collaboration extends beyond individual projects, contributing to the collective advancement of the profession and the pursuit of design justice in all its forms.
As a result, the collaboration between architectural practices in designing justice buildings represents a paradigm shift in the field of architecture, emphasizing the importance of equity, and community engagement. By pooling their resources and expertise, these practices can create spaces that not only serve their intended purpose but also embody the principles of design justice, fostering a more equitable and humane built environment for all. As we continue to confront the challenges of the 21st century, collaboration will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping the future of justice architecture, ensuring that our buildings are safe, yet welcoming while reflecting the values and aspirations of our diverse society.
Long-standing professional collaboration evolves into partnerships that demonstrate the addition of one plus one can equal three, as multi-strength and multi-national firms work in conjunction to achieve design excellence and apply specific lessons learned for continued improvement.
Multi-national firms have worked seamlessly with experienced resources to address highly complex programming and planning assignments, which accurately respond to law enforcement operations and site conditions. Through collaboration, the opportunity to achieve design excellence is maximized, especially with award winning practices such as AECOM and NORR, who have delivered the Waterloo Regional Consolidated Courthouse, a new 426,000-square-foot building where the distinct geological character of Ontario’s Grand River inspired our design. This project has won multiple design excellence awards including the 2013 American Institute of Architects / Academy of Architecture for Justice-Award of Merit. It achieved LEED® Gold certification. Currently, both firms are
also developing the Sir Robert Peel Centre Redevelopment project, a large-scale law enforcement assignment within an existing facility to be developed in three phases.
AECOM and NORR have a long history of collaboration—over 20 years of delivering innovative justice design. This extensive relationship translates into a cohesive team with passionate and skilled professionals, demonstrating expertise, and the ability to work towards a unified vision.
Author bios: Steve Sestic, OAA, MRAIC, Principal, AECOM, Buildings + Places, Public Safety & Justice – Canada; Cristi Glenn, Assoc. AIA, ICCJP, NORR, Principal, Justice – U.S.; Memo Terres, OAA, MRAIC, PMP, WELL AP, NORR, Principal, Justice – Canada
By CN Staff
The ACA Summer Session in Nashville was right in tune with today’s correctional trends. A bustling show floor at the mid-August event drew a packed early crowd, exceeding traffic in recent years according to most attendees we spoke with.
And that was never more apparent than at the function’s General Session, where Jelly Roll—the famed musician and former inmate—amused, inspired and enlightened an overflowing hall of more than 3,000.
CN checked in with a few attendees to get their take on the annual summer gathering.
Jaime Crespo, Marketing Manager, with Orijin, exhibited at the show’s expo, but also appreciated the event’s learning opportunities.
“Hats off to Jacqueline E. Williams, Deputy Director of Education, Programs, Case Management, and Reentry Services at the Washington DC Department of Corrections, and Dr. Tony D. Johnson, President and CEO of Captivate Perspectives, for delivering such an engaging and insightful workshop at the American Correctional Association’s Summer Congress of Correction 2024,” said Crespo.
“Their presentation on The DC READY Center: The Implementation of a Continuum of Care Model to Reduce Recidivism highlighted how integrated programs and services can truly make a difference in the lives of those reentering society. We are proud to partner with the DC DOC in expanding access to the education and workforce devel-
opment resources that are critical to reducing recidivism and fostering lasting change.”
Of course, there was pleasure to mix with all the business as well, including some off-site social affairs in downtown Nashville. These included a gregarious gathering at the Margaritaville Hotel on Friday evening and a Saturday affair at one of the city’s most unique nightspots.
Kevin Claffy, a sales executive with normative furnishings leader Cortech USA—a host of the Saturday reception—said that networking was a vital part of the experience.
“For Cortech, the ACA is an opportunity to strengthen relationships with clients and industry partners,” said Kevin Claffy, Strategic Sales & Customer Success. “Without question, the highlight of every show is the opportunity to host a social event for our clients and friends.
“At the Nashville show, we wanted to offer a unique experience that our guests would be excited to go to….and who doesn’t love a speakeasy? We had well over 100 attendees with a seamless balance between vendors and clients. The Red Phone Booth provided the perfect ambiance - a blend of historic charm and modern sophistication that fostered both casual networking and deep conversations.”
To that end, CN staff enjoyed the countless convos at our booth and elsewhere around the show, and was great catching up with everyone in attendance. Looking forward to doing it all over again in Orlando in January!
By CN Staff
Some projects stand out most by their perfect fit, and that label definitely applies to a recently wrapped facility in West Virginia.
The new Putnam County Sheriff Headquarters in question is set on the campus of the historic Putnam County Courthouse in Winfield. The County Commission’s aim was to bring the entire Sheriff’s Department back onto the courthouse campus—as they were operating from several different locations throughout the county, and due to the fact they had outgrown their existing facility on campus.
The site solution placed the building between the original Romanesque Revival courthouse (1900) on the northwestern edge of campus and the newer judicial annex (1996) on its northeast edge and immediately adjacent to the existing Sheriff facility (1958). The massing and materiality of the new building is a representation of the interaction between solid and void.
A small “hyphen” mass was placed between the new building massing and the existing two-story structure allowing each building to appropriately mark its place in time. Traditional brick is used in contrast with glass and fiber-cement panels to represent the relationship between the historic past of the campus and its progression toward the future. The colors selected were intended to match the tonal quality of the materials on the neighboring buildings to provide a unified appearance to the campus while each building has its own unique architectural style.
From a building operational perspective, the first level consists of separated public and staff entries and spaces essential to the efficient daily operational flow of a law enforcement facility. The second level of the building includes a public lobby space and areas for the administrative functions of the divisions of the Sheriff’s Department.
The existing two-story building was completely renovated to house Home Confinement and Day Report functions on the first level and the Investigations Division (Detectives) on the second level. The exterior massing and fenestration of the building intentionally follows the building’s organization providing solid form where security and privacy are required and offering access to daylight and views where appropriate.
Correctional News tapped the mind of Brian A. Estep, AIA, an Architect / Project Manager, with Silling Architects for his key takeaway from the undertaking.
What were some of the limitations with this undertaking in terms of the site space and how did you navigate that element?
Estep: The site is located on the campus of the Putnam County Courthouse in Winfield, WV. Its location on the campus is between the original Romanesque Revival courthouse (1900) and a newer judicial annex (1996) and immediately adjacent to a two-story 1958 structure that was being used by the Sheriff’s Department. To help meet the County’s project budget, the 1958 structure was completely renovated to become part of the new headquarters.
The courthouse campus is arranged with separate public and staff entrances and parking with each of the existing buildings having its own distinct entrance off of the centrally located public parking area. The new Sheriff’s building was placed in such a way that it provides a strong visual and physical reinforcement to that separation.
With the new building site being located near other buildings from different time periods and also linked to one of the existing buildings, how did you address the “fit” of the building on the campus while providing a separate identity?
Estep: Each existing building definitely has its own unique architectural style and in their own way mark a point on the timeline of the campus’ development. The colors and materials selected for the Sheriff’s headquarters were intended to match the tonal quality of the materials on the neighboring buildings to provide a unified appearance to the campus. Traditional brick is used in contrast with the more modern glass and fibercement panels to represent the relationship between the historic past of the campus and its progression toward the future.
To further strengthen the relationship between the new and the old structures, references the stone bands of the adjacent existing building by establishing registration lines that guide the composition of the new building facades. Those registration lines are reflected in an abstract manner and appear in the new building as recessed brick bands creating a strong shadow line. A “hyphen” skinned in fiber-cement panels was placed between the existing and new building masses allowing each building to mark its respective place in time.
Did this new police HQ reflect any current vital trends in justice and law enforcement design?
Estep: There are several trends that were a vital part of the success of this or any law enforcement project. Approachability and transparency, officer mental health and wellness and community engagement.
Approachability and transparency are qualities we feel are important to the success of new law enforcement projects. Highlighting the publicly accessible spaces (Entrance and Community/Training Room) with expanses of glass create a feeling of openness, transparency, approachability and conveys a welcoming presence for the visiting public.
Law enforcement can be very stressful and demanding. The day-to-day pressures can take a toll on officers mental health and even satisfaction with their job. Providing spaces that help in improving mental/emotional health and officer morale is a very important factor in modern law enforcement design. Creating a positive physical environment is one factor that contributes to better officer morale and wellness. The open patrol room with a dedicated space for each patrol officer provides a sense of ownership and belonging. Providing access to natural light and views (in patrol room and private offices) is also vital to creating a positive physical environment. Providing areas that foster communication and collaboration (open break area/coffee bar with seating) creates opportunities for sharing of knowledge and experience which also contributes to a sense of belonging and unity. These components are more than just ways to promote wellness but also are important to officer retention and recruitment.
How do you balance the need for safety and security with the goal of also creating a welcoming civic venue?
Estep: The sense of approachability and transparency that were mentioned earlier are important elements to successfully presenting a welcoming aesthetic. A building that appears visually open and transparent feels more welcoming than one that appears opaque and visually closed off. Organization of the building is planned such that areas accessible by the public are separated from staff areas and secure spaces related to the operation of the Sheriff’s Department. This approach to the arrangement of spaces makes for a more efficient means to control public accessibility. The massing of the building and thoughtful approach to fenestration intentionally follow this organizational approach allowing secure and private areas to be solid while providing maximum exposure to natural light and views in areas where transparency is appropriate.
How did the collaborative aspects of the project go and who were your key partners?
Estep: We have a strong belief at Silling that collaboration with the project stakeholders is vitally important to the success of the project. Having representation of the law enforcement department at the table throughout the entire programming and design process is essential. After all, they are the ones using the building on a daily basis and are aware of current functional and operational issues and challenges. Each law enforcement department has its own unique set of operational challenges. That’s why their involvement is so important. If we don’t take every opportunity to immerse ourselves in their daily operation and listen to and understand those operational challenges in order to remove those challenges and improve that work flow we’re not doing our job.
The key partners in this project were Sheriff Bobby Eggleton, former Chief
Deputy Eric Hayzlett, current Chief Deputy Shane Shamblin, selected members of the command staff and the County Commissioners. The entire group was great to work with and were excited to be a part of the process.
What kind of feedback/recognition has the project received since its completion?
Estep: We have heard nothing but good things from officers and command staff about how the Department loves their new building. This quote from Sheriff Bobby Eggleton in particular means a lot: “Your design is spot on for us and working with you was a pleasure.”
Not only was the client satisfied with the facility, but in April of this year, the project won a Merit Award for Achievement in Architecture from the jurors of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Excellence in Design Awards.
Facility Name: Putnam County Sheriff’s Department
Facility Type: Law Enforcement & Public Safety
Location: Winfield, West Virginia
Construction Budget: $9.5 million
Area (square feet): 15,500 GSF New Construction; 6,600 GSF Renovations
Start Date: March 2021
Completion Date: April 2023
Owner/Operator: Putnam County Commission
Owner Representative: Jeremy Young, County Manager
Project Manager: Brian Estep, AIA
Architect: Silling Architects
Structural Engineer: SMBH, Inc.
Mechanical Engineer: Scheeser Buckley Mayfield, LLC
General Contractor: Swope Construction
Exterior Materials: Belden Brick Co., American Fiber Cement Corp., Guardian Glass, YKK AP
Roofing System: Versico
Insulation: Rmax, Owens Corning
Ceiling System: Armstrong
Interior Finishes: United States Gypsum, Florida Tile, Schluter Systems, Tarkett,Mondo, Milliken, Sherwin Williams
Video Surveillance: Avigilon, BCD, Intellinet, Legrand
Access Control System: Aiphone, Avigilon, Farpointe Data, HID Global, Legrand, Rosslare
Lighting Fixtures: Juno Lighting Group, Lithonia, Lumenwerx, Acuity Brands (controls)
Plumbing Fixtures: Delta, Elkay, Jay R. Smith Manufacturing Co., Kohler, Oasis, Sloan, Speakman, T&S Brass
Electrical Systems: Allied, Asco Power Technoligies, Cantex, Generac, Hubbell, Legrand, Square D
Fire Suppression System: Edwards (detectors + alarm), Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Victaulic
MIAMI—CGL Companies (CGL) recently announced that Gregory S. Westbrook will move to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role and Ted Perry, MBA, LEED AP O+M, will succeed him as President of CGL Facility Management (CGL FM).
As COO, Westbrook will oversee CGL’s day-to-day operations, driving growth, and enhance CGL’s overall business strategy. He will collaborate closely with the CGL executive team to ensure the ongoing delivery of outstanding services and foster the development of staff and processes across all service lines.
As President of CGL FM, Perry will lead the FM’s overall strategic direction, guiding the team’s vision, and steering key growth initiatives. Perry will ensure the delivery of comprehensive facility management solutions, focusing on asset management and preventative maintenance to enhance building performance and significantly reduce annual maintenance and energy costs.
Westbrook’s professional career has been focused on providing value solutions to critical environment infrastructure in multiple industries. Starting as an electrician in the Navy, he later led teams in operations and maintenance for data centers, manufacturing, hospitals, airports, and food processing facilities. Since joining CGL in 2011, he has focused on serving social infrastructure clients and public facility owners. Westbrook has been responsible for delivering comprehensive facility services, including maintenance, utilities, infrastructure, process systems, roads and grounds, office services, janitorial, and construction projects. His extensive experience in effectively managing public facility systems, including
large-scale statewide agency portfolios in both corrections and higher education, ensures functional and efficient facilities for clients.
Westbrook served in the United States Navy and holds an undergraduate degree in business management as well as an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) and a Certified Facilities Management Administrator from the BOMI Institute.
Perry brings over 30 years of experience in facility maintenance, spanning various sectors including corrections,
higher education, hospitality, and retail. His responsibilities include overseeing facility management accounts across the United States and leading facility condition assessment business activities. Perry’s broad skill set allows him to effectively manage client satisfaction, resolve technical issues, and develop sustainable energy management plans.
Eclipse Screening Technologies, a leader in contraband interdiction for corrections facilities, has announced a new layer of defense for chemical decontamination. The SoRite® DECON products – innovative wipes and sprays that clean and eliminate traces of harmful chemicals – can be used in mailrooms and throughout the entire correctional facility to ensure the safety of officers and inmates who are exposed to chemical substances. Eclipse is the authorized distributor of Aseptic products within corrections.
Eclipse Screening Technologies
www.eclipse-st.com
Reader Service #200
Put
i-PRO Co., Ltd. recently announced its new AIenabled Corner Camera. Built in Japan for the rigors of correctional facilities, the camera’s wide-angle view (131° horizontal, 95° vertical) limits blind spots, providing full room coverage. The corner camera supports up to three free i-PRO AI applications simultaneously, such as AI Video Motion Detection, Privacy Guard, and People Detection.
i-PRO
www.i-pro.com
Reader Service #201
Brass Knuckle® Spectrum (BKFLEX-4040N) eye protection has options to fight fog no matter where work has to get done. This powerful ANSI Z87.1+ protection weighs less than one ounce, and the rimless lenses are manufactured with exclusive BK-Anti-FOG protection. Spectrum pops with color, too, as each lens color in the family sports a unique, corresponding temple color.
Brass Knuckle
www.brassknuckleprotection.com
Reader Service #203
Landscape Forms introduces the Outline family of column lights, path lights and bollards. A modern reinterpretation of the familiar column luminaire, Outline is designed to bring greater visual interest, performance and more versatility to urban environments. The family includes 12’ and 10’ column lights, a 4’ path light and a 4’ unlit bollard.
Landscape Forms
www.landscapeforms.com
Reader Service #202
Nilfisk has announced the launch of the SC550 walkbehind scrubber, which will be available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada in the fall of 2024. Nilfisk developed the SC550 scrubber based on customer insights to help organizations optimize cleaning processes through user-centric design, intuitive operation and sustainable technology.
Nilfisk
www.nilfisk.com
Reader Service #204
By Brooke Martin & David Evers
Implementing sustainable design principles within correctional facilities serves to interconnect justice with individual and societal wellness that positively impacts the built environment. These design decisions are evidence-based and incorporate social norm principles leading to improved outcomes for staff, residents, inmates, and patients. Sustainable justice interconnects environmental principles frameworks of human rights, equality, empathy, compassion, and fact-based decisions that impact the built and natural habitat.
In correctional facilities, the social environment is built by social norms that create the expected culture that staff, residents, inmates, and patients must follow to feel a sense of belonging rather than exclusion. Social norms are typically defined1 as “the informal rules that govern behavior in groups and societies.” These governing behaviors help provide direction in social landscapes and interactions and impact design. Social norms are rudimentary, like shaking hands, greeting others, expecting personal hygiene in a professional environment, being punctual, granting personal space, and providing privacy in public restrooms.
Social norms can also describe characterizations such as, “More than 70% of people in U.S. jails and prisons have at least one diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorder or both.”2 Social norms can also prescribe behavior or state what people think someone should be doing such as, “Mental and behavioral health services should be provided to justice-involved persons daily or weekly in-person within the secure facility vs. online or offsite to build and sustain wellness.”
Social norms can also influence populations with detailed information on change within that culture or society, such as “In conversations with front-line criminal justice professionals, people often ask, “Why don’t they just get help?” This is usually in reference to individuals who cycle in and out of the criminal justice system due to symptoms of mental illness. For those who are less familiar with the failures of our mental health care system, it can be difficult to understand the number of barriers to care people with mental illness face… …Changing federal policies, such as allowing Medicaid to provide coverage to people who are incarcerated, can support people with mental illness from becoming disconnected from their care while incarcerated. It can also provide access to services once they are released that prevent them from becoming re-incarcerated.3 ”
It is important to create healthy and normative social norms within correctional
environments to influence healthy habits, decision making, and a culture of wellness. This is foundational for success of treatment programs, services, skill-building, and behavioral change as well as positive staff role models. Health is a key component of sustainable justice.
A transformational paradigm shift requires cultivating positive social change by understanding what people are currently doing, determining what they should be doing through evidence-based research on design and programmed services, and illustrating how behavior has been changing based on those metrics – in essence, creating sustainable social norms supported by intentional design.
Communities are formed and influenced by their built environments, practiced operations, and evolving treatments and programs, which is seen in evidence-based applications. In the case of corrections, this process can be viewed through the lens of how a design supports the built environment and humanity as a whole. The following spaces and design elements contribute to wellness:
• Fitness areas
• Walking/running tracks or paths
• Separate exterior staff and resident/inmate/patient secure courtyards
• Natural daylighting in all areas
• Biophilia wall coverings and directed exterior views
• Comfort controls for lighting and temperature
• Circadian rhythm lighting integration
• Decompression spaces for staff and calm/mindfulness spaces for residents/inmates/patients
• Individual, gender-neutral restrooms
• Singular, shared staff locker area with adjacent individual gender-neutral restrooms
• Dining options with a variety of nutritious and lifestyle options
This may beg the question, won’t this cost more? The answer is, not always. Reduced recidivism, restoring people to become productive members of society, and imploring sustainable design can lead to time and cost savings via operational efficiencies.
Resources, operational and staffing costs, and overall project budgets can be offset over the long term through building performance. Designing a facility’s systems should be based on life-cycle data, estimated costs, and grants that offer paybacks. The sustainability and effectiveness of the design are heavily impacted by where the site: how the facility is positioned on the site and how the exterior envelope is designed.
Design and construction industries are quickly advancing toward decarbonization through energy code and legislative requirements. As a result, carbon emissions are becoming the measure of desired performance and return on investment (ROI). Since secure justice facilities are large energy consumers, sustainability takes on greater importance in design and operation decisions. It’s important to note that resilience remains paramount and complementary to sustainability. Since secure facilities house vulnerable populations in strictly controlled spaces without free egress, a reliable utility infrastructure is imperative.
A tight, well-insulated envelope—along with proper testing—leads to optimal building performance, resulting in lower energy bills and reduced mechanical and electrical system costs. After accounting for the building envelope, the next focus should be on heat recovery systems. Due to these facilities’ 24/7 occupancy and the continuous operation of ventilation systems, an efficient heat recovery system can lead to cost savings.
Trending with the accelerated movement toward electrified buildings, current best
practices for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and electrical design incorporate heat pump technology for efficient heating, on-site renewables for clean electricity production, and energy storage for resilience and grid flexibility.
Energy storage solutions can be found in battery electric or thermal storage. It’s a best practice to use thermal storage for thermal loads, such as heating and cooling, and battery energy storage for electrical loads, such as lighting and plug loads. This minimizes the environmental impact of battery production and disposal and instead enables energy storage using natural resources like water or ice.
One recently completed design of a secure behavioral health facility incorporated these sustainable and resilient design features into otherwise conventional hot water and chilled water variable-volume air handling systems. This provided systems that are largely familiar to maintenance personnel, coupled with ice storage tanks and a piping loop to enable energy transfer and storage. The building is also equipped with physical space and electrical infrastructure for a future addition of on-site solar.
The choice of electrified heating, thermal storage, and solar-ready infrastructure allows for the control of heating and cooling energy production and usage. This optimizes both cost and carbon emissions based on current utility rate structures and provides opportunities for adaptability as grid electricity pricing and emission rates change over time.
Historically, sustainable design measures come at a cost premium. Today, however, with rising energy prices, the economics of these features and technologies have become favorable. Additionally, federal tax credits available for clean energy technologies lead to appealing net costs of efficient and sustainable design.
Successful outcomes are dependent on thoughtful, intentional design and operational approaches, which should be focused on wellness and positive environmental impacts. In doing so, designers are helping to improve the resilience of individuals, facilities, and ultimately communities. This is what transformative design for restorative outcomes looks like when put into practice.
Citations:
1 https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-norms/
2 https://nysba.org/unjust-punishment-the-impact-of-incarceration-on-mental-health/#:~:text=More%20 than%2070%25%20of%20people,have%20a%20serious%20mental%20illness.
3 https://www.nami.org/988/criminal-justice-reform-means-reforming-the-mental-health-system/
Brooke Martin, AIA, CCHP, NCARB, LEED GA, is an associate and justice architect at Dewberry.
David Evers, PE, CEM, LEED AP, is a vice president, managing director of the Midwest engineering group and Decarbonization/Electrification Leader at Dewberry.
By CN Staff
Surveillance tech has continued to evolve ever since its very inception, and CN touched base with one of the top firms in that sector to get a pulse of 2024’s top cutting-edge security camera trends.
Hanwha Vision opened its newest Hanwha Innovation and Technology Experience (HITE) on July 30, 2024 in Irvine, Calif. The new 5,200-square-foot center, Hanwha’s third HITE in the United States, presents the company’s vision for the future of security and surveillance through a combination of interactive product demonstration stations, a training center, and presentation areas.
Since Hanwha developed the HITE concept in 2019, the company has continually made every effort to design each location as a “destination” for Hanwha customers, partners and professionals across the security and surveillance industry.
“The convergence of hardware devices with software-based advanced vision solutions is changing the landscape of surveillance and creating unique security requirements,” said Mr. Kevin Seo, President of Hanwha Vision America. “The HITE provides our customers and partners with comprehensive resources to educate them about the latest surveillance technologies and data-driven analytics that are transforming our industry and helping organizations adapt their operations for long-term success.”
This newest HITE location joins the original space in Hanwha Vision’s New Jersey headquarters and another in Texas. Its prime location in the Irvine Spectrum Center makes it convenient for customers and partners to visit and schedule tours.
The HITE features multimedia classrooms and lab environments for hands-on product training, certification courses, dealer and partner education and more, with full online capabilities to support remote participants.
The Hanwha surveillance solutions on dis-
play in the Irvine HITE range from devices enabling protection and monitoring capabilities to the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence, data analytics for business intelligence, and cloud-based surveillance management. Attendees will see Hanwha Vision’s OnCloud VMS and full ecosystem of unified cloud-based devices and apps to AI-powered cameras, AI analytics and business intelligence software. Additional Hanwha Vision products and solutions featured in the Irvine HITE include:
• Wall-mount cameras (T series TNV-C8011RW) –these new cameras solve the obstructed-view challenges of high-overhead dome devices by delivering an “eye-level,” nearly 180° panoramic FOV for accurate face and object detection (people and vehicles).
• AI Box (AIB-800) - converts any camera supporting ONVIF/SUNAPI into an AI-enabled device with object classification and attribute extraction, avoiding the additional costs of replacing an entire system.
• Bi-spectrum traffic cameras (TNO-C49xxTDR series) – contains visible and thermal sensors enhanced for outdoor applications, specifically transportation and traffic monitoring. Thermal imaging enables 24/7 monitoring even in low light or challenging conditions.
• Radiometric thermal imaging with AI technology (TNO-C3010TRA) – enhances safety in hazardous environments by instantly detecting abnormal temperature changes within the widest temperature detection range on the market (rom -40°F ~ 1,022°F (- 40°C to 550°C).
Each HITE center is built with a modular infrastructure allowing sections to be easily modified to showcase different products and technologies. This flexibility allows Hanwha to present customized demonstrations across various vertical markets as industry trends and customer needs evolve.
Tim Eads, Sheriff of Dickson County (Tennessee) believes a picture is worth 1,000 words when it comes to video surveillance throughout his offices and correctional facility. “Anytime I’ve ever done an internal investigation, I’ve found that 99% of the time, video can clear the air,” he said.
Those odds are what led the Sheriff’s Office to upgrade its surveillance system to Hanwha Vision cameras and WAVE video management system.
The Sheriff’s Office has a 397-bed capacity, and the facility also accepts prisoners from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in the state. High-quality and accurate video surveillance is essential for monitoring daily inmate activity, providing video evidence to state authorities or resolving complaints and disputes among inmates and staff.
The county’s previous technology was outdated with inferior quality video capture and an inability to accurately detect and record illegal activities – which were often occurring on the premises. The system was so old, the team regularly joked that “the Smithsonian called, and they wanted their property back.”
“With our previous video surveillance, the camera quality was so poor it was like looking through a glass of milk,” said Dwayne Hayes, Chief Jailer, Dickson County. “If we don’t have good video surveillance, both inside and outside of the jail, then we’re missing things and that’s a problem.”
The office’s previous surveillance inadequacies were well-known among would-be criminals in the surrounding area, who were confident they wouldn’t be identified during vehicle break-ins or other illegal activity on the premises.
“Now we can track them as soon as they come up the hill by the administration building,” Hayes said. “We would have people come up to the parking lot and do drug deals because they knew our camera system wasn’t going to catch them.”
One of the department’s main goals was installing a multi-faceted system that could be hardened against network intrusions, offered multiple angles and views, and eliminated blind spots.
License plate recognition (LPR) technology has increased the department’s ability to track and detect all vehicles entering and exiting the property.
“The system will detect stolen or wanted vehicles,” Eads said. “If we have intel on a license plate, we can put that information into the system and if that vehicle enters the parking lot, then we get an alert. “
Hayes added, “With this LPR technology, we can set parameters, for example if we are looking for a red vehicle or a red truck, it will pull up vehicles with those features. Usually we’re recording all activity, and then when we have a need for a specific incident or piece of footage, we can narrow it down at a later date and download specific video clips.”
The Hanwha system records and stores footage for 90 days, allowing the team to search and download clips of any activity occurring throughout the facility among inmates or deputies for investigative purposes. When reviewing footage, the team can reduce video speed frame by frame to isolate movements easily. The cloud-based system also lets deputies log in from remote locations to view footage, a more efficient process than having to be in the office to download video.
In addition to comprehensive coverage, the Hanwha platform is intuitive and easy to learn.
“Once you start working with the WAVE software and using it on a regular basis, it’s user-friendly,” Eads said. “We don’t need it to be rocket science. It needs to be for people like me who can get in there and noodle around with it to find what I need.”
Eads and Hayes are confident the Hanwha cameras and WAVE platform will grow with them as their needs and requirements evolve. For now, the office’s new surveillance capabilities have increased safety, reduced liability and has allowed daily operations in the jail to be carried out in a timely and efficient manner.
“Did the citizens of Dickson County get their money’s
worth?” Hayes asked. “Yes, they did, and they will continue to because these camera systems are all about security and safety. I have three rules: everybody goes home at the end of their shift, nobody dies, and we stay out of federal court. These cameras help us do that. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the right video is the whole book.”
The new T series wall-mount cameras from Hanwha Vision solve the obstructed-view challenges associated with dome surveillance devices in high overhead mounting positions. The new cameras deliver an “eye-level,” nearly 180° panoramic field of view while capturing detailed 5MP resolution video for accurate people and object identification.
The T series cameras (model TNV-C8011RW) can fit a range of commercial surveillance applications requiring wide fields of view of any property or establishment without blind spots. Potential installations include gas stations, retail stores, drive-thru lanes, self-checkout kiosks, or other scenarios where users need to clearly see people and vehicles entering and exiting, detect theft and prevent loss, monitor customer activity to take immediate action, and to improve the guest experience.
“Surveillance dome cameras are often mounted high, which creates sharp viewing angles that makes it difficult to identify people as they move closer to the camera,” said Ramy Ayad, Sr. Director of Product Management at Hanwha Vision America. “The T series offers a more natural, realistic view to detect key details that might otherwise be obstructed or not even visible.”
The T series wall-mount cameras are equipped with AI-based object detection to reduce false alarms and also generate metadata that can be used to streamline forensic searches. The use of WiseStream III compression technology enables more efficient video management by reducing bandwidth by up to 80% without compromising the video quality. AI-powered wide dynamic range (WDR) and noise reduction technology combine to produce crisp imagery even in challenging lighting.
Security teams can use the camera’s built-in analytics to set up virtual areas and lines, and receive alerts when classified objects or people enter, exit, intrude or loiter in designated locations requiring authorized access. The camera’s AI engine also features analytics related to facility occupancy levels, people or vehicle counting, queue management, heatmapping and other trackable statistics useful for improving customer service and generating actionable business insights.
The new camera’s IR performance allows night viewing at up to 15 meters and close-up imaging without oversaturation. A lens tilt of ±25° allows users to customize their viewing angle to fit any environment. The T series wall-mount cameras feature a built-in microphone allowing users to hear any activity near the camera.
MENIFEE, Calif.—California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero joined judges and staff from the Superior Court of Riverside County on August 23 to officially commemorate the opening of the new Menifee Justice Center; the venue opened for business July 8, 2024.
The new Menifee Justice Center presents a three-story, nine-courtroom, 85,010-square-foot building and surface parking spaces for the public and jurors in the city of Menifee. The facility replaces existing court operations and five courtrooms in the nonstate-owned Hemet Courthouse and hosts four courtrooms for authorized/funded new judgeships, enhancing court operational efficiency, justice access and public service. It alleviates the current space crunch, bolstered security, and replaced existing deficient court space.
“This has been a highly collaborative effort between the Judicial Council of California, Clark Construction, and the broader project team to deliver a muchneeded facility to the local community’s benefit,” said Kwaku Gyabaah, senior vice president at Clark Construction. “It’s great to see the building in use after being delivered on time and budget.”
The project site is about 3.87 acres, and the project utilized the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. This new courthouse hears civil, family law, and small claims case matters serving residents of the mid-county region of Riverside County.
The project budget was approximately $95 million and the new courthouse will have space for basic services not possible at the previous courthouse due to space restriction. These include jury assembly and deliberation rooms, an adequately sized self-help center and children’s waiting room, and attorney interview/witness waiting rooms.
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By Mary Scott Nabers
Courthouses and other municipal buildings are being renovated and upgraded throughout the U.S. That’s because funding for them continues to be available, and that is good news. But even better is the fact that many upcoming projects carry projected costs representing hundreds of millions in contracting opportunities.
While the federal government supports local municipal and courthouse projects, it also updates and renovates many courthouses in numerous states. Federal construction spending totaled about $34 billion in 2023, including allocations for projects at several levels of government. The projects that follow have been funded, but they are all in the very early stages of implementation. This early stage provides a prime opportunity for interested parties to begin positioning themselves for success.
The California Superior Court will be replaced in Fresno at a cost of $749 million. This historic facility has been in service since 1966 but can no longer meet compliance standards, especially the newer building regulations, including seismic codes and space standards. A new courthouse will resolve these problems and save the county over $40 million in maintenance costs.
The project will consolidate two other existing buildings – a smaller courthouse on M Street and the North Annex Jail. Fresno County officials need approximately 2 acres where the 400,000-square-foot courthouse can be built. This new facility will be designed for 36 courtrooms and space for future needs. The effort is not moving quickly because of the size of the initiative, and construction will likely launch in 2026.
Officials in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, will oversee a project to replace an aging public safety building with a new courthouse complex. The project will call for demolishing a 95-year-old safety building and constructing a 10-story, 374,000-square-foot justice center in its current location. The renovation of a historic courthouse will also be incorporated, and the project will cost approximately $490 million. The new justice center will house criminal, preliminary, custody intake and outtake courtrooms. It
will be designed to separate inmates, witnesses, jurors and staff. Public wayfinding and emergency path visibility will be improved. New and upgraded technology, including video teleconferencing and digital recording devices, will be installed. The renovation will include restructuring an older restraining clinic and constructing two new civil and family courtrooms.
The project recently entered the formal design and planning stage. Solicitation documents are expected in early 2026, and construction will launch shortly after that.
The federal General Services Administration will oversee a $334 million project to construct a federal courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut. Once completed, it will serve as headquarters for the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. The old courthouse is no longer adequate. The new 211,000-squarefoot facility will be equipped with 11 courtrooms, 18 judge chambers, offices for various agencies and 60 secured parking spaces.
The project’s design phase began in April of this year, and an environmental review will be completed this summer. Construction is planned to launch in 2027. Commissioners in Henderson County, North Carolina, approved a new courthouse and detention center project that carries a cost estimate of $158.3 million. It will include significant renovations to the existing courthouse and the expansion of two new additions. The renovations and additions will provide much-needed additional space in the courthouse. The new facility will be a 99,000-square-foot, three-story structure, and the attached detention center will have a two-level housing area and a support area for administration, magistrate, staff, intake, food preparation, medical and laundry services.
The project is currently in the design phase, which is expected to continue for another year. Construction will begin in 2025 and be completed in phases. The detention center will fall into the first phase.
City leaders in Eastvale, California, will oversee construction of a city hall as part of a larger effort to establish a downtown campus for the first time. Established in 2010, the city has seen rapid growth in the past 10 years, and the need for a downtown area and city hall has grown. Currently, the city hall resides in a former retail building and does not have enough space for employees and visitors.
This downtown development initiative began in March 2023, and 6 acres have been set aside for city use. The new civic center will be built on that land. The 50,000-square-foot space will include the new city hall, a library, a police station and general-use areas for citizens.
A master developer will be hired this year to assist the city with planning and developing a finalized timeline for construction. The bid for construction is expected in early 2025. The city’s general fund has contributed funding in previous fiscal years and is expected to allocate additional funding in the years ahead as the project moves forward. At least $104 million has been set aside for the project to date, but the final project cost could reach up to $200 million.
City leaders in Mercer Island, Washington, closed the city hall building due to asbestos contamination, and municipal operations were relocated to temporary facilities. Now, a new building will house the Public Works Department and the Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems Department. A new facility will be constructed on the current city hall campus that will also provide space for the police department and the Emergency Operations Center. The building will replace the current public works building.
The new building will need to provide
space for the four co-located departments. This will include overnight spaces for public works staff, space for over 100 pieces of public works equipment and space for police operations. In their current facilities, the departments occupy about 40,000 square feet of building space, 20,000 square feet of covered equipment storage and about 150,000 square feet of semi-covered operations space. The cost of the new building is still being determined in preliminary design work, which is currently underway. The option of abating the asbestos has been tagged with an estimated cost of about $10 million. It would be difficult to point to any time in history when more collaborative opportunities were supported by funding for all parties.
As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Mary Scott Nabers, a former statewide office holder in Texas, has decades of experience in the public and private sectors. Her unique expertise is her success in connecting the two sectors. Mary is also a well-recognized expert in the P3 world and a true business development professional.
