INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - Lieutenant Sharon Blankenship

Close to three years ago, Lieutenant Sharon Blankenship added recycling to her long list of duties as Fire and Safety Officer at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF). Around LCF Sharon is known as the "Queen of Green". When the paper recycling project began to fail, Sharon brough in Deffenbaugh Recycling and suddenly the institution was recycling 2.5 tons of paper a month from the Central Unit alone. Sharon insists on everything from proper gear for inmates mowing grass to placing signs in all restrooms saying "Please Wash Your Hands".

For her tremendous recycling effort in addition to work in Fire and Safety, KCA proudly presents the Institutional Employee of the Year Award to Lieutenant Sharon Blankenship.

Patricia Jackson is a member of the Administrative Team at Unified Government Community Corrections, and has lead the way for the agency to embrace evidence-based practices and the use of the integrated model for corrections. Patricia knew it was time to put the focus back on the offender and public safety -- not paperwork and bean counting. Patricia  took on the obstacles, looked at the good, the bad and the ugly, and helped move the agency forward to be more effective and efficient.

For her positive work in her agency, for being an agent of change, for her focus on increasing the success of the probationers being supervised, and for her desire to do things the right way at the right time for the right folks, KCA proudly awards the Paul J. Weber Award to Patricia Jackson.

Given that the 2008 KCA Conference has focused on reentry and reentry issues, it seems fitting that the winner of the 2008 KCA Media Award be someone who has noticed, studied, and written about the extensive and successful reentry initiatives that are on-going in Kansas. Kansas reentry intiatives have not only made local headlines, but also have been featured nationally.

One particular article written by Jeff Gerritt ran in the Detroit Free Press on July 13, 2008. The article showcased both the Kansas reentry initiative and the importance prison based industries can play in that initiative. Gerritt's article, "Get-tough Policies Cause More Crime, Deny Inmates a Future", demonstrates insight into the reality of offender reentry, and upholds KDOC's belief that when offered encouragement and active assistance men can and do change, and change for the better.

For sharing his insight into offender reentry with others through his article in the Detroit Free Press, KCA proudly awards the KCA Media Award to journalist Jeff Gerritt.

Samuel F. Jones, a volunteer at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) since 1999, is an excellent example of how someone can turn their life around. Jones was paroled from LCF in 1997 having served close to 23 years in prison. Samuel now volunteers with Faith Deliverance, Stop Violence, and also conducts a Bible study and a Sunday morning service at the prison each month. Additionally, Samuel works as a mentor with young men 17 to 24 years of age in a program called Fringe Benefits, a program designed to get young people involved in school and working with them to get jobs when they complete their education. Samuel also heads up a non-profit organization called LHS for Change (Love, Help, and Support), an organization designed to help inmates released from prison find transitional housing.

For his volunteering to help others, KCA proudly awards the KCA Citizen Recognition Award to Samuel F. Jones.

The KCA Award for Valor is being jointly presented to Lionel Barley and Jeremy A. Welch, both employed at the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF).

In an incident on July 3, 2007, that occurred in the Maximum Unit Canteen, Lionel Barley realized another employee was being attacked by an inmate. He was able to unblock a door that had been barricaded with a file cabinet, and entered the office where the attack was taking place. Once inside, Lionel was cut by a box knife wielding inmate. Though injured, Lionel kept fighting the inmate while others removed the other employee so she could receive medical attention. Because of his selfless act of putting the needs of a fellow human being ahead of his own personal safety, KCA proudly awards the KCA award for valor to Lionel Barley.

Jeremy A. Welch, Correctional Officer I at Lansing Correctional Facility, also played an important role during the above incident. When he heard yelling from the Maximum Unit Canteen, he immediately went to investigate. When he saw Storekeeper Pam Bonner bleeding severely from multiple wounds, he helped remove her from the area so she could receive medical attention. Once he was sure Storekeeper Bonner was safe, Jeremy came to the aid of Lionel Barley by subduing and restraining the inmate assailant. For staying calm during a crisis situation, for quickly assessing the situation and making life changing decisions, and for helping save the life of one employee and aiding a second employee, KCA proudly awards the KCA Award for Valor to Jeremy A. Welch.

KCA WOMAN OF DISTINCTION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AWARD

Colette Winkelbauer, Deputy Warden at Lansing Correctional Facility, supervises Facility Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Food Service, Staff Development, Volunteer Services, the Chaplaincy, and the Mail Room. Colette attends meetings and takes an active role in each of these areas. She wears a hard hat in construction areas and a hair net when inspecting all three LCF kitchens. In Staff Development, Colette teaches classes including topics ranging from dealing with male staff and other female staff, to learning to say no, to stressing the importance of having a life away from the correctional facility. Deputy Warden Winkelbauer personally meets and greets over 400 LCF volunteers in ten volunteer training sessions and discusses what she can do to help the volunteers meet their own expectations and to enjoy a positive volunteer experience.

Because few people in the Kansas Department of Corrections have more experience and expertise in more areas than Colette, because she is an advocate and role model for women in corrections, because she is a leader, effective supervisor, and someone who can be counted on day after day, KCA proudly awards the KCA Woman of Distinction in Criminal Justice Award to Deputy Warden Colette Winkelbauer.