TDCJ depopulates Dawson
and Mineral Wells facilities
Legislative initiatives impact offender population growth
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) recently removed the offender population from two privately-operated facilities, and changed the mission of several other facilities in order to house displaced female offenders, a logistical challenge met through a large-scale, coordinated effort by agency staff.
With the contracts for Dawson State Jail in Dallas and the Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility expiring on August 31, three TDCJ correctional facilities have been closed since the implementation of Legislative reforms aimed at decreasing the number of nonviolent offenders incarcerated in TDCJ. In 2012, for the first time in history, the state of Texas closed a correctional facility, the Central Unit in Ft. Bend County near Houston. Central's age and encroaching residential and commercial development made it the initial candidate for closure. Offenders housed at Central, along with much of the unit staff, were transferred to other TDCJ facilities.
As with all offender transfers, security, public safety, staff and offender safety, and continued delivery of essential daily services were among the issues which had to be resolved before the movement of offenders from Dawson and Mineral Wells could begin.
Dawson State Jail was a co-gender facility located in downtown Dallas housing around 2,200 offenders, 1,400 of those being female. The Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility, located about 80 miles west of Dallas, could house 2,100 male offenders. As Dawson housed both male and female offenders, gender issues had to be anticipated and dealt with, including such mundane but critical items such as alteration of bathroom facilities. To move these offenders to other CID units, the Marlin Transfer Facility, near Waco, and the San Saba unit were first converted from male to female populations.
In preparation for the depopulation, State Classification Committee (SCC) members screened more than 11,000 offenders for trusty consideration and Pre-Release assignments and choreographed the overall depopulation plan while monitoring to avoid potential capacity problems. Agency staff documented SCC decisions, coordinated the trusty project, maintained daily statistics and keyed in more than 10,000 transfers to allow reassignment of offenders.
The agency's Manufacturing and Logistics staff were heavily involved in the move. Staff at the Luther Stainless Steel factory built and refurbished toilet and sink fixtures, and staff at the Coffield Metal Fabrication shop manufactured toilet partitions, walls, panels and bunk ladders. Manufacturing and Logistics staff also transported the materials and goods to Marlin and San Saba.
Facilities Division staff, to include Region II, V and VI maintenance staff, as well as San Saba and Marlin maintenance employees, were instrumental in the alteration of offender housing areas to accommodate female offenders.
Offender Transportation of course played a large role in both the depopulation of Dawson and Mineral Wells and the conversion of the Marlin and San Saba units to female housing. Warden Kyle Coston and his staff were responsible for relocating more than 10,000 offenders during the transition.
Region VI Director Eric Guerrero, along with Wardens Linda Gonzales and Debbie Erwin, acknowledged unit staff for their hard work during the conversions of both the Marlin Unit and San Saba Unit, noting that it required a strong, unified effort to successfully transition these units from male to female. Gatesville area facilitator staff helped with officer and staff gender-specific training at Marlin and San Saba.
Staff from numerous other divisions and departments, to include Human Resources, Classification and Records, the Safe Prisons Program, the Security Threat Group Management Office, Business and Finance, Risk Management, and Private Facility Contract Monitoring and Oversight also played important roles in the successful depopulation.
While transferring offenders and closing a prison may seem a simple and straightforward process, the logistical challenges presented by this action were daunting. CID's Deputy Director for Support Operations Michael Upshaw praised the effort, saying, "The success of this project shows how staffs from different TDCJ divisions come together as a unified team to accomplish a common goal. In this case, the goal was to depopulate two facilities and convert two additional facilities from male to female. This was no easy task, but because of the teamwork and professionalism of our employees, it was completed in a flawless manner. It is truly an honor and privilege to be a part of such a loyal, professional, dedicated and hard working team."
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Special Halloween restrictions prevent children's contact with some parolees
Not every Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) employee gets to hand out candy or accompany their young trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Unit staff may be protecting the public while working their shift, and parole officers may be working to keep young trick-or-treaters away from parolees whose supervision conditions prohibit contact with children.
As in the past, paroled offenders with child-contact restrictions will receive written notice informing them that, in addition to their normal supervisory conditions:
- They are to remain home from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., excluding medical treatment or regular employment that has been verified and approved by a parole officer
- All outside lighting of their residence must be turned off at 5 p.m.
- No Halloween decorations are to be placed on the exterior of their residence
To help ensure compliance, parole staff will conduct residence checks beginning at dusk on October 31. Parole's Specialized Programs department will also send letters to Sex Offender Treatment Program providers, advising them to inform their treatment groups of these special restrictions.
According to Parole Division Director Stuart Jenkins, the special restrictions have been utilized for nearly 10 years, demonstrating the agency's long-term commitment to public safety by protecting children during typical Halloween festivities.
"Like many TDCJ employees, parole officers don't work eight-to-five, Monday through Friday," said Jenkins. "If making the rounds on Halloween night will make contact less likely (between children and those whose conditions prohibit contact), I believe our efforts are very worthwhile."
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Chairman's Fitness Challenge 2013: fourth-quarter results
The fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2013 Chairman's Fitness Challenge was a great success. During the six-week period, participating employees collectively accumulated more than18 million points, bringing the total points earned thus far to almost 43 million.
Congratulations to all our participants. Below are the first, second and third place winners within each division.
| FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1: 19 or fewer employees |
Internal Audit Division | Parole Division Central Headquarters | Texas Board of Criminal Justice and Austin Executive Administration |
| Division 2: 20 to 39 employees |
Office of the General Counsel | Reentry and Integration Division |
Parole Region III |
| Division 3: 40 to 99 employees |
Houston VII Office - Parole Division |
Administrative Review and Risk Management Division | Huntsville Institutional Parole Office |
| Division 4: 100 to 199 employees |
Correctional Training Administration - CID | Glossbrenner Unit - CID | Sayle Unit - CID |
| Division 5: 200 to 299 employees |
Hobby Unit - CID | LeBlanc Unit - CID | Travis County State Jail - CID |
| Division 6: 300 plus employees |
Manufacturing and Logistics Division | Huntsville Unit - CID | Jester IV Unit - CID |
| Division 7: Windham School District (WSD) | WSD West Texas Region | WSD North Texas Region | WSD South Texas Region |
Special Platinum Challenge
There were 112 employees who successfully completed the Special Platinum Challenge by achieving 2,500 points during each week of the fourth quarter, and 169 Gold Challenge participants who earned more than 1,000 points during the quarter!
Listed below are the quarter's successful Silver Platinum Challengers. Names in italics indicate 19 staff members who completed Platinum Challenge all four quarters for the fiscal year 2013 Chairman's Fitness Challenge.
Congratulations to you all! Keep up the outstanding work!
| Department/Unit of Assignment | Name |
|---|---|
Administrative Review and Risk Management Division |
Heydn, Debbie |
CID - Correctional Training Academy |
Morales, Paul |
CID - Region III Director's Office |
Paukner, Dave |
Clements Unit |
Clark, Brian Vargas, Marisela |
Cole State Jail |
Hendrix, Katrina |
Daniel Unit |
Scott, Leslie Steck, Russel |
Dominguez State Jail |
Borrego, Lucia |
Gist State Jail |
Childs, Jeffery Jones, David Whittington, Tosh |
Glossbrenner Unit |
Gamez, Oscar Gonzalez, Jr., Felipe Soliz, Velma |
Goree Unit |
Richards, Corey Shair, Jacquelyn |
Havins Unit |
Knight, John Lancaster, Cindy Lopez, Cynthia McCarty, Melissa Patterson, Edna Stevens, Robert |
Hightower Unit |
Dear, Sherry McDaniel, Joseph |
Holliday Unit |
Bickford, Steven |
Hospital Galveston |
Collins, Jeremy Holiday, Lori Jones, Darnell Winston, Antoinette |
Hughes Unit |
Dicorte, Kelly Lackey, Sherri |
Huntsville Unit |
Cotton, Joseph Frasier, Cody Haskell, Courtney Kukua, Michael Perkins, Krista Price, Kailian Proctor, Michael Sanchez, Eric Seitz, John Shotwell, Sherry Sugamele, Trisa Towell, Samuel Wilburn, Matrice Zander, Brinton |
Jester I |
Blackshear, Wesley |
LeBlanc Unit |
Aylor, Timothy Dionne, Thad James, Alphonso Miller, Brice Wolfe-Mahfood, Valerie |
Lopez Unit |
Cavazos, Hector Rodriguez, Carlos |
Lychner/Kegans Units |
Fontenot, Lillie |
Lynaugh Unit |
Galven, Pamela |
Michael Unit |
Wright, Richard |
Middleton Unit |
King, Jesse |
Moore Unit |
Conway, Christopher Dean, Kenneth Latham, Harold Walley, Eddy |
Neal Unit |
Tenbrink, Eric |
San Saba Unit |
Kirchner, Michael Uhler, Susan |
Segovia Unit |
Olguin, Estela |
Skyview/Hodge Complex |
Rodriguez, Gerado Romer, Walter |
Stiles Unit |
Knod, Lance |
Telford Unit |
Raggs, Victor Sartin, Derek Siebe, Matthew Yawn, Stephen |
Torres/Ney Units |
Garza, Roberto Ross, Pernell Trejo, Alfredo |
Travis County State Jail |
Black, Nancy Coleman, Annie Cantu, Joshua Snow, Michael |
Vance Unit |
Sykes, Patricia |
Human Resources Division Headquarters |
Drew, David |
Information Technology Division |
Pickens, Stephanie |
Internal Audit |
Arterberry, Shelia |
Manufacturing and Logistics Division |
Belew ,Tammie Ellis, Bob Robinson, Jesse Sevedge, David Warren, Kelly Whiddon, Monica |
Office of the Inspector General |
Castillo, Ramon |
Parole Division, Brownwood District Parole Office |
Grace, Leslie |
Parole Division, Gatesville Institutional Parole Office |
Thill, David |
Private Facilities Contract Monitoring and Oversight Division |
Fox, Stephen |
Reentry and Integration Division |
Jackson, Rosalie Lively, Mary |
Victim Services Division |
Nelson, John |
Windham - Administration |
Martinez, Jason Trevino, Farrah |
Windham - North Texas Region |
Dugger, James Martin, Sherrie |
Windham - West Texas Region |
Foose, Richard Gholson, Shelia Kubena, Edwin Prebish, Kenneth Rose, Frank |
Getting Fit Along on the Road to Sochi 2014
The 2014 Chairman's Fitness Challenge, Getting Fit Along the Road to Sochi, began in September with a theme selected to honor the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
As in previous years, Administrative Leave will be awarded to every employee who completes that quarter's challenge in its entirety, but this year's Challenge features a new twist: each quarter will become progressively more difficult, requiring participants to earn more points to successfully meet their goal.
For program details, including participant sign-up information for the Fitness Challenge, contact your agency Wellness Initiative representative.
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Garcia named TDCJ
Human Resources director
 |
|
|---|---|
| Patty Garcia |
In September, Patty Garcia was named director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Human Resources (HR) Division.
A 1993 graduate of Sam Houston State University, Garcia has worked for eight years in policy and records management for TDCJ's Executive Services department, and nearly 14 years in both government and private sector human resources. She began her TDCJ career in 1990 as a Classification and Records clerk, and then served in a variety of positions, including HR clerk, payroll assistant, administrative technician, technical writer, program specialist, employment section director and manager of Employment and Support Services.
Regarding her recent selection, Garcia said, "I am honored to lead the HR Division, and am confident that we will continue to provide excellent customer service to meet the needs of current and future agency employees."
TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston congratulated Garcia, saying, "Her integrity, strong customer service approach and leadership ability, combined with her experience, will prove to be a great benefit to the agency as she serves in her new role as director."
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Lumpkin named director of TDCJ Manufacturing and Logistics
 |
|
| Bobby Lumpkin |
In August, Bobby Lumpkin was named director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Manufacturing and Logistics Division.
Lumpkin, a 23-year veteran of TDCJ, began his career with the agency in 1990 as a correctional officer at the Diagnostic Unit. He promoted through the security ranks and held the position of assistant warden on several Correctional Institutions Division units. He also worked in the Administrative Review and Risk Management Division as the American Correctional Association accreditation manager, and the review and standards manager. Most recently, Lumpkin served as deputy director of the Private Facility Contract Monitoring Oversight Division.
Congratulating him on his promotion, TDCJ Executive Director Brad Livingston highlighted Lumpkin's long career with the agency, saying, "His experience includes ongoing unit-based responsibilities as well as key management and leadership roles in two additional divisions within the agency. This extensive and diverse background will serve TDCJ well as he assumes his new responsibilities."
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Morales named deputy director of Management Operations for CID
 |
|
|---|---|
| Paul Morales |
In September, Paul Morales was selected as deputy director of Management Operations for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correctional Institution Division (CID).
Morales has more than 24 years experience with TDCJ, beginning his career as a correctional officer at the Terrell Unit in 1989. Rising through the agency's security ranks, Morales served as senior warden at the Segovia, Lynaugh/Ft. Stockton, McConnell and Connally units. In 2009 Morales was named CID Region III director and, three years later, took over as director of the Correctional Training and Staff Development Department for CID. During his career with the agency, Morales earned a master's degree in Criminal Justice from Southwest University.
Congratulating Morales on his promotion, CID Director Bill Stephens said, "Paul's leadership will serve the agency well as we move forward."
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Parole Division selects Toliver
and Howard as deputy directors
In September, Ervin Toliver and Lisa Howard were selected by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Parole Division to serve as deputy directors of Management Operations and Support Operations, respectively.
TDCJ Parole Division Director Stuart Jenkins commended their selection, saying, "The Parole Division will greatly benefit from the diverse range of experience and deep institutional knowledge Mr. Toliver and Ms. Howard bring to their new duties. Their work will be a strong asset as we continue our mission to protect the public while promoting offender rehabilitation and reintegration."
 |
|
|---|---|
| Ervin Toliver |
Ervin Toliver has 19 years experience with TDCJ, most recently working as director of Parole's Specialized Programs Section. During his career with the agency, he has been responsible for the management and oversight of the Super-Intensive Supervision Program (SISP), to include training of SISP officers, policy and procedures development, and monitoring of SISP contracts. Toliver has held senior management positions in both field operations and central operations, and has been instrumental in upgrading internal review and motivational interviewing procedures.
 |
|
| Lisa Howard |
Lisa Howard has more than 25 years experience working for TDCJ, with 15 of those years in supervisory positions. Howard served as a regional director with the Private Facility Contract Monitoring Oversight Division (PFCMOD) and most recently, as deputy director of the PFCMOD Programs Monitoring Section, which helps monitor prison substance abuse programs, halfway houses, residential substance abuse treatment programs and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs. Howard has worked with the Parole Division, in both the Warrants Section and Specialized Programs.
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Davis named director of CID Correctional Training and Staff Development
 |
|
| Lorie Davis |
In August, Lorie Davis was selected as director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correctional Institutions Division's (CID) Correctional Training and Staff Development Department.
Davis, a TDCJ veteran with nearly 25 years experience, began her career as a correctional officer and promoted through the security ranks. With a bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University and a master's degree from Texas Tech University, Davis also possesses a wide range of experience, having worked as senior warden at nine different TDCJ facilities. Most recently, Davis served as director of CID Region III..
Congratulating Davis on her selection, CID Director Bill Stephens said, "(Her) positive energy and passion toward our mission will serve Correctional Training and Staff Development well as we continue to focus on core values and leadership principles."
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TDCJ selects Echessa as
CID Region III director
 |
|
|---|---|
| Leonard Echessa |
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has selected Leonard Echessa as Region III director for the Correctional Institutions Division (CID), effective October 1.
Echessa, a 21-year veteran of TDCJ with a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University, began his agency career as a correctional officer, and was promoted through the ranks, eventually serving as senior warden at the Glen Ray Goodman Transfer Facility in Jasper, followed by three years as senior warden at the Jester IV Unit in Richmond.
CID Director William Stephens commended the new Region III director, saying, "Leonard's twenty-plus years of experience includes assignments on units with diverse operations. His strong leadership qualities, experience and commitment to our overall mission will serve the agency well."
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Parole selects Ramirez
as Region III director
 |
|
| Marcus Ramirez |
Effective September 1, Marcus Ramirez was named Region III director for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Parole Division. Ramirez has served more than 18 years with Parole, working as a parole officer as well as supervisory roles in both administration and field work. His most recent position was assistant region director with the Parole Division in San Antonio.
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