Morris Thigpen, Director of the National Institute of Corrections and recipient of the first Francke Award in 1992, announced the award noting that Commissioner Epps has had a distinguished career in corrections spanning close to 30 years.  Mr. Thigpen described him as a visionary who knows how to project his ideas in order to achieve them, adding that his deep commitment to public service has made a positive difference for the state, his many professional affiliations, the corrections community and countless other organizations.

Chris began his correctional career in 1982 as a correctional officer and worked his way up through the ranks in various positions including Disciplinary Hearing Officer/Investigator, Corrections Case Manager, Corrections Case Management Supervisor, Director of Treatment Services, Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Security, Director of Offender Services/Treatment, Director of Records, Chief of Staff, Deputy Commissioner of Community Corrections and Deputy Commissioner of Institutions.

Chris is currently serving in his tenth year as Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the longest serving Commissioner in the State’s history.  Drawing on lessons he learned as he moved up the chain of command, he has successfully guided his agency to tighter fiscal control and shepherded legislation to better manage and slow the growth of the state’s inmate population despite having the second-highest incarceration rate in America.

Having actively participated in the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) for close to a decade, Commissioner Epps has exhibited leadership and dedication to the organization serving on 6 of ASCA’s 12 committees, served as ASCA Treasurer in 2010 and has served as ASCA’s Vice President since January of 2011.  His participation in other professional organizations includes: serving as an ACA auditor; being elected as treasurer of both ACA; being appointed to serve on the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation National Board of Directors; and recently being elected to serve as the 112th President of ACA.

Chris Epps’ accomplishments in the field of corrections, his outstanding service to the state and the local community, active participation in ASCA, and his integrity, diplomacy and competence all illustrate how truly deserving he is to be honored with the 2011 Michael Francke Award.

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At its annual awards dinner at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on December 4^th, 2010, the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) honored Patricia Caruso, Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections, as the outstanding Director of Corrections for 2010.

Making the award announcement, Morris Thigpen, Director of the National Institute of Corrections and recipient of the first Francke Award in 1992, said that Patricia has a long and outstanding career. She began as an assistant business manager in 1988 and has risen to the top leadership position.  He described some of her qualities from the letters of nomination: "passion, true leader, high standards, vision, integrity dedication, and enthusiasm."

For the past seven years Patricia successfully managed one of the largest corrections systems in the country during one of the most difficult economic periods in the state’s history.  Michigan currently operates 35 prisons, houses 44,000 prisoners and supervises approximately 58,000 prisoners and 20,000 parolees. Under this person's vision and leadership, Michigan implemented one of the most effective prisoner reentry programs in the entire nation. Governor Granholm is proud to say this program serves as a gold standard and is often researched and imitated by other correctional systems.  Patricia Caruso has appropriately reduced the size of the state’s prison population while at the same time enhancing public safety. She has cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the budget while maintaining a strong commitment to reinvest in community programs. Change achieved in the department's staff culture has resulted in a new focus on increasing public safety by investing in offenders' success when they are released from prison. She has adopted research and data to inform decision-making concerning policy, and has implemented evidenced-based programming on the same basis.

She has made a significant investment in the professional development of staff with the Leadership Program initiated in 2002, which now requires an intensive 95-hour training program for all new supervisors, managers, and executives. She has taken serious and aggressive action to address recidivism and continiues to provide sage and humane living and working conditions in the Departments facilities.  Many other innovations and accomplishments have been achieved under her leadership, such as technologies to automate prisoner movement processes, electronic enhancements for prisoner education, and statewide communication via video conferencing.

Patricia has also been recognized with numerous awards. In 2008, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan presented her with the Public Official of the Year award for her long-time support of Habitat Programs. That same year Family Justice presented her their Justice leadership Award for Michigan’s partnership with Family Justice to break the intergenerational cycles of crime and incarceration.

Her leadership has not been confined to her own state. She is a member and Past President of the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents.  An active member of the American Correctional Association, she has served as Vice President and was recently re-elected to that position.

Roger joined the Kansas Department of Corrections in 1982 as a Community Corrections Specialist after being the first director of the Wyandotte County Community Corrections Program. He has supervised all three divisions of the Department and has served the people of Kansas in the areas of community mental health, child protective services, and substance abuse prevention and treatment. In nominating him, Governor Parkinson wrote, “under Roger’s leadership, there has been seven percent reduction in the state’s inmate population since February 2004 as well as a 53 percent reduction in the rate of monthly parole revocations in Fiscal Year 2009 compared to FY 2003. Kansas has also benefited from Roger’s leadership evidenced by a 69% reduction in average number of parole absconders in the last decade.” Governor Parkinson said, “these dramatic improvements are just a few of the impressive outcomes achieved by the Department under Roger’s leadership which has focused not only on the safe and effective containment of inmates, but has also contributed to public safety by encouraging and assisting offenders to become law abiding citizens.

” Roger chairs the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; is a member of the Kansas Sentencing Commission; the Kansas Reentry Policy Council; and the Kansas Sex Offender Policy Board. He has been a member of the Governor’s Mental Health Services Planning Council; the Governor’s Substance Abuse Prevention Council; the Information Technology Executive Council; the Criminal Justice Recodification, Rehabilitation and Restoration Committee; and chaired that State’s Community Corrections Board. He was a recipient of a Garvey Memorial Scholarship and a Charlotte Leavitt Scholarship. In 1998, he was recognized as the outstanding alumnus of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare and is a member of the school’s Advisory Board. The Council of State Governments named him a 2005 Toll Fellow. He serves as the Midwest Regional Representative on the Executive Committee of the Association of State Correc-tional Administrators. He has been a volunteer in scouting and youth athletics. Morris Thigpen, Director of the National Institute of Corrections and recipient of the first Francke Award in 1992, described Secretary Werholtz as a quiet, reserved and influential member who has made major contributions on a state, regional and national basis. He has served as both moderator and instructor for ASCA's All Directors and New Directors Training Programs where he shared his knowledge, experience and insights. He is patient, thoughtful and even-handed and credited him with having a wry and dry sense of humor that helps bring difficult issues into perspective. Mr. Thigpen said that as a major player in ASCA's performance based measures project he has worked tirelessly through controversial issues with the committee parsing measure after measure without taking sides and gaining consensus among members about how to measure performance.

A.T. Wall began his correctional career in the neighboring state of Connecticut as a probation counselor. Working his way through law school at Yale University, he later served as Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, served as Director of the Manhattan Community Service Sentencing Project for the Vera Institute of Justice and a Policy Analyst on law enforcement for the Rhode Island Governor’s Office. He came to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections in 1987, serving in the role of Assistant Director for Policy and Development, and later was promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Administration before being appointed to the position of Director in 2000. When nominated, A.T. is the third longest tenured director in the country. According to his executive staff, A.T. Wall is a leader who has “never veered from his deep and abiding interest and commitment to the criminal justice system…demonstrating a talent for clearly and concisely communicating the complex issues of the world of corrections to the public.” A.T. Wall has mirrored these efforts on the national level as well, testifying before Congress in 2003 with regard to the Prison Rape Elimination Act and the efforts of the field to address such issues. His staff noted that he is “…a tireless trainer on PREA, having criss-crossed the nation several times…” to speak about sexual assault and sexual misconduct and has also testified at the fourth hearing held by the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee to the Prisoner Reentry Institute at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. For ASCA, served on the Executive Committee of ASCA as the representative of the Eastern Region and currently serves as Treasurer of the Association. As his Assistant Directors who authored the nomination noted, “…his leadership, creative energy, commitment to his work and his staff, and his progressive and innovative contributions to [the] department…” all describe Director Wall’s character and approach to corrections – both of which are greatly valued and respected by all.

Theodis Beck has dedicated 32 years of service to the North Carolina Department of Correction. His career began as a probation and parole officer in 1975. He worked his way through the system to the level of Deputy Secretary, where he served with distinction for two years. In 1999, he was first appointed as Secretary by Governor Jim Hunt and re-appointed for two terms by Governor Michael Easley. Some of his accomplishments included securing the support for the construction of 6,000 high security cells to house a growing number of serious violent offenders. He has endeavored to reduce the number of offenders returning to prison by establishing an Office of Transition Services to oversee agency efforts to provide transition planning for those preparing to release from prison. With grants he initiated two programs – Going Home and Job Preparation for Offenders. The Going Home initiative partnered with other state and county agencies and non-profit groups to assist offenders in obtaining jobs, achieving educational goals, finding stable living arrangements, remaining drug free and improving family stability. Other achievements include providing emergency assistance to state, county, and local law enforcement following several national disasters. He has invested in the Depart-ment’s future leaders through his support of manager training programs. Theodis Beck’s service to ASCA also stands out clearly. He has moderated and presented at numerous training programs and has represented ASCA at numerous events across the country. He has served as Program and Training Committee Chair, Southern Region Representative to the Executive Committee, Treasurer, Vice President, and President of ASCA. His great sense of humor, his warm and friendly personality, and his common sense approach is admired by all.

Larry Norris began his correctional career in a unique manner, as a phlebotomist at the Cummins Unit. While working full time, he earned a bachelors and masters degree. His responsibilities increased over the years, from Infirmary Administrator and later Assistant Warden, to Warden at the Maximum Security Unit at Tucker, Assistant Director and finally to Director in January of 1994. Larry is the longest tenured director in the country and constantly challenges his staff to be innovative. One of Larry’s biggest accomplishments as Director has been to fully implement standards making the Department one of few in the country to have all state owned facilities accredited, as well as the central office and training academy. He has also instituted mandatory training requirement for all staff for promotions and college degree requirements for assistant wardens and wardens. He increased the rate of pay for correctional officers, resulting in a dramatic decrease in turnover. He has implemented a state of the art, integrated, electronic offender management information system. He is a past President of the Southern States Correctional Association and has served on the Executive Committee of the Association of State Correctional Administrators as the representative of the Southern Region and was Vice President of the Association when he received this Francke Award. Governor Mike Huckabee said of him, “Larry Norris has shown a willingness to try new programs when many simply want to build additional beds. He has shown unwavering support for programs like Drug Courts and Technical Violator Programs in the hopes that recidivism rates will decline. He has also taken an often-unpopular stand on sentencing laws that he feels are too harsh. He coined a phrase that I often use in my speeches ‘We are locking up individuals we are mad at and not the ones we are scared of.’” Larry’s dedication and determination have started a new and exciting age in the field of corrections in Arkansas. He has invested his time and energy in developing a plan that emphasizes accountability by the system, responsibility on the part of offenders and reasonableness in working with public officials. Larry is a man of outstanding character who truly practices what he preaches.

Jeffrey Beard was appointed Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections in 2001 and reappointed in 2003. He is a leader who is changing the way corrections operates in Pennsylvania. During the last few decades, while the state built new prisons to accommodate the increasing inmate population, he focused his attention on maintaining security and improving treatment and educational programs. Significantly, he drafted and actively solicited support for the successful passage of the State Intermediate Punishment Legislation to divert less serious drug offenders into an intermediate punishment program; he revised the inmate education policy to include raising the inmate academic education level to the GED level while collaborating with the Department of Labor and Industry to address employability issues; he made major strides in testing and implementing new inmate assessment tools and systems to better target treatment resources; he standardized treatment programs; and he began pilot reentry initiatives focusing on linkages within the community, identifying positive role models and mentors, securing employment and expanding the use of community resources.

Martin Horn has well over thirty years of impressive service in corrections. His impressive record in community and institutional corrections demonstrates not only his extraordinary dedication to his profession, but also the significance of his achievements. He started his career as a New York State Parole Officer in 1969. In 1990, he became Executive Director of the State Parole System. From 1995 to 2000, he served as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Corrections. Martin Horn returned to his home state of New York in 2002, to serve as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation. One year later, he was asked by Mayor Bloomberg to assume the additional responsibility of Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. Numerous times he has been tasked to turn around troubled institutions or systems, and he has successfully engineered change for the better, whether improving quality of service while implementing budget cuts or developing a multi-agency coalition to ensure the success of a legislative system-wide smoking ban, or establishing a drug interdiction plan. Working closely and effectively with carried constituencies, from labor unions to legislatures, and from judges to advocates to academics, he has earned the respect of all.

Odie Washington has spent thirty years of dedicated service in corrections. His career has included juvenile and adult corrections. He served as Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections for three years and was selected to head the District of Columbia Department of Correction in March of 1999. Odie Washington has led the District of Columbia DOC through major organizational changes including: vacating the court-ordered receivership of medical and mental health services and attaining national accreditation, commencing a $26 million capital improvement program at the jail, reducing inmate on inmate assaults by 18% and inmate on staff assaults by 47%, implementing a Victim Information and Notification system, vacating a 32-year court order ending U.S. District Court oversight of the jail, and completely reengineering the records department. He has been an active member of the Association of State Correctional Administrators and the American Correctional Association. He has served as a Commissioner of the Commission on Accreditation and as its Chairman for a number of years. He has served as a trainer and presenter at ASCA’s New Directors and All Directors Training Programs.

Richard Stalder is well respected both at the state and national level and is frequently called upon to speak to/with organizations such as the United States Department of Justice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council of State Governments, American Probation and Parole Association, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency. During his tenure as Secretary, Richard’s accomplishments include opening a formal Incident Management Center at the Headquarters Complex, establishment of a Crime Victims Services Bureau to oversee provision of victim rights, development of the Quarterly Statistical Performance Report (QSPR) which debuted in September 2002, and serving on Sentencing Reform and Louisiana Risk Review Panels that shaped and passed a historic reform law. In addition to his service with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Richard has served on numerous ASCA and American Correctional Association (ACA) committees including currently serving as Vice President of ASCA, and as immediate Past President of ACA.

Commissioner Glenn Goord's track record has been to raise the bar for standards and staffing levels, as well as for inmate programming that has placed the Department in the forefront of the nation's prison systems. His depth and breadth of correctional experience provides him with the knowledge to quickly and effectively assess and marshal the many resources available in this agency, from ensuring the safe and secure operation of our facilities to aiding our outside communities in their time of horrific crisis. His depth of caring and sensitivity to the needs of others make him the person to be at the helm of a massive agency responsible to its employees, inmates and the community that is New York. Glenn Goord is a native of Clifton, NJ. He graduated in 1973 from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.A. in Psychology.

Under Ron Angelone's direction, the Virginia Department of Corrections revamped the inmate classification process to include a range of security levels from the least restrictive community-based centers to maximum-security prisons. In addition to moving to a new inmate classification system, the mission of each prison within the state was reviewed and refined to correspond with the new classification system. He also advanced Virginia to the forefront in substance abuse treatment. The state's in-prison substance abuse programs currently provide some level of services to over 37 percent of the prison population. Another program implemented by Ron Angelone is Operation Turnaround, a cooperative effort between the Department of Corrections and faith communities throughout the Commonwealth. Operation Turnaround was recognized by ASCA in its publication, "Correctional Best Practices: Director's Perspectives." Ron Angelone served as president of ASCA.

Governor Carnahan noted of Dr. Dora B. Schriro, "Her proposals have resulted in making criminal justice laws and policies that are consistent, compassionate and practical." In his nomination, the Governor sited her programming accomplishments including full time work for the inmates, comprehensive substance abuse treatment for offenders, sex offender assessment and treatment programs and mandatory inmate education. He also cited her work to promote restorative justice and victims services within and outside the department, and the innovative constituent services office that addresses the concerns of offenders, families, legislators and advocacy groups. The Governor also noted her influence to advance sentencing that is "smart and tough" through her work with the General Assembly to increase sentences for dangerous and repeat offenders as well as for sex predators.

Since December of 1992, when she was appointed Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Kathleen Hawk Sawyer has admirably exhibited: leadership, as demonstrated in her management of the nation's most far-flung correctional agency, with over 30,000 staff and 121,000 inmates; commitment, evidenced by her assistance to and support of the National Institute of Corrections and ASCA's initiatives; and service, most readily apparent in her longstanding involvement in the ASCA State-Federal Committee. Her personal warmth, flexibility, intelligence, and exemplary leadership have earned her the esteem of her peers and colleagues, as well as a lasting place in correctional history. It is an honor for ASCA to recognize her as a role model and driving force in modern corrections.

Harold Clarke's commitment to corrections is evident in his Professional Goal: "To contribute to the field of Corrections by being a catalyst for positive change." An innovative thinker, an even-handed consensus builder, and a peacemaker whose tools include a healthy sense of humor, Harold follows up his stated goals with personal commitment, perseverance and achievement. In his nomination of Harold, Nebraska's Governor E. Benjamin Nelson stated, "As Director of Corrections since 1990, Mr. Clarke has demonstrated outstanding leadership, contribution, accomplishment, and service to the Association of State Correctional Administrators, his home state and to the field of Corrections." Treasurer of ASCA from 1994 to 1996, and President since January of 1996, Harold's easygoing style, warmth, reliability, and hard work have earned him the respect and admiration of his profession. We are proud to recognize his outstanding leadership and stature.

ASCA recognizes that Reggie Wilkinson's commitment to the professionalism of corrections has been evident throughout his tenure as Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, since February of 1991. He has implemented the principles of quality management throughout the agency, and is recognized throughout the state as a positive, constant presence in the Governor's Cabinet and at the state legislature. His service to the field extends far beyond what he has given his own agency. Recently elected President of the American Correctional Association, he has served ASCA for years in a variety of roles, moderating the All Directors programs in 1994 and 1995 and chairing the Program and Training Committee. His gracious manner and leadership skills have earned him the respect of his peers, and the Association is proud to recognize and acknowledge his contributions in this manner.

Elaine Little has shaped and guided the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation into a cohesive and unified correctional agency. Inquiring and reassuring, she inspires others to follow easily and invest enthusiastically in her principles and values, which embody a genuine concern and deep interest in the views of many. Her commitment to excellence extends to the growth and strength of this Association. As Treasurer and President of ASCA, she has captured and retains the respect and admiration of her colleagues across the country through her calm and reasoned voice, and her measured and resolute decision-making. She is deserving and inspiring, and the Association is grateful for this opportunity to honor her with this award.

Joe Lehman's accomplishments in furthering the goals of this Association are exceptional. His devotion of personal time and resources to accomplishing our objectives have made him a primary agent in shaping us into a more visible and influential organization. In Pennsylvania, Joe rescued a troubled agency and provided it with leadership and stability. He managed a huge capacity expansion project to address crowding, advocated sentencing law and criminal justice policy reform, directed the creation of a new objective inmate classification model, and implemented unit management throughout the state's institutions. He works tirelessly to educate the public and elected officials on correctional issues, and has contributed significantly to the Association's peer training efforts as a trainer and as program moderator. Joe's warm and caring personality, vast experience, integrity, vision, and substantial accomplishments for Pennsylvania and for the Association deserve celebration.

Chase Riveland, in the words of Washington Governor Mike Lowry, "truly represents the meaning of this award-excellence in corrections." A thirty-year veteran of corrections and Washington State's Secretary of Corrections since 1986, he is a mature, positive leader who focuses on standards of performance and brings out the best in people. His visionary leadership has gained him the respect of the public, government, and other correctional administrators. Among his accomplishments are prudent management, intergovernmental partnerships, workplace diversity, and expansion of community corrections. Credibility, commitment, human compassion, and values are his hallmarks. He has shared his experience and insight with countless new administrators during the Association's seminars. His contributions to, and guidance of the Association over the years, have resulted in its growth and unity, and this award acknowledges him as a national role model for correctional administrators.

Morris Thigpen has demonstrated commitment to professionalism in the field of corrections and unfailing dedication to the correctional systems he has served faithfully for over twenty years. A man made for correctional improvement and reform, he is a strong, gentle, fair, even-handed, forthright, perseverant correctional administrator. He operates correctional systems with integrity and determination and contributes those same qualities within his peer group regionally and nationally. It was during his tenure as President of ASCA (1985-86) that the Association took giant steps toward unity and strength. We acknowledge him as a national role model for correctional administrators.