Field Days

We're back! Yes, for the final episode of the year and we want to thank all our Field Days Podcast for a great 2017 season. The podcast produced 52 episodes with 75 guests, was listened to over 40,000 times and received two awards. Chris, Greg, and Camara have plenty planned for 2018, but until catch this episode highlighting some of their favorite episodes and favorite guests.

A 21-year employee of the department, Phil Monahan spends his days as a quartermaster at Parnall Correctional Facility and his free time performing as a professional wrestler and spreads joy during the holiday season as Santa. He has a passion for giving back to the community and uses his wrestling career to advocate against bullying in schools and fundraise for those in need.

Field Days Podcast - Officer Fineis by Field Days

Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) is leading the charge in elevating the corrections profession by way of the Move Forward Campaign, which aims to promote the values and standards that set corrections and forensic officers apart in the criminal justice system in Michigan. Andy Potter, Vice President/Chief of Staff and Jeremy Tripp, Director of Government and Political Affairs share the initiatives MCO has taken to reform negative perceptions of corrections professionals.

Mike Keck and Lara Neuman are both experts on the COMPAS program, which acts as an additional tool for probation agents to offer recommendations based on individual's needs to the court for sentencing. Keck, COMPAS program manager, and Neuman who helped start the pilot program out of Kalamazoo County where she is a supervisor, talk about the important role COMPAS has on evidence-based sentencing. Van Buren County Judge Kathleen Brickley also advocates for the use of COMPAS at the pre-sentence investigation and shares a story about its success.

Ear Hustle — a slang term for eavesdropping, is a podcast collaboration between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, prisoners at San Quentin State Prison in California, and Nigel Poor, a Bay Area artist who volunteers at the prison. Produced inside the prison's media lab, Ear Hustle tells stories about life inside prison walls. The podcast reached number one on the iTunes podcast charts, shortly after its March 2017 release. Nigel Poor co-host, co-creator, and co-producer shares stories of Ear Hustle's success during this Field Days interview.

Three sponsored department competitive shooting teams took second place overall, during the 80th Michigan State Police Pistol Match — a first in department history. Deanne "Dee" Bodnar, a sergeant at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility and podcast guest, won the High Corrections Individual title. The September 14 competition was held in Jackson where Bodnar and over 30 MDOC shooters went up against 150 competitors. EPIC Competitive Shooting Team lead, Assistant Deputy Director Robert Napel, and Dee talk about the competition and the plans to drum up support from staff.

"It's a very small percentage of people who take on a lot for the country." Almost 2,000 of that small percentage - of Americans who are or have been active in the military, work for the department. During the inaugural "Veterans Appreciation Week," we honor all our veterans and military service members. Our guests in this episode are veterans Todd Butler, policy and FOIA manager, Wendy Hart, an analyst in the PREA section, and Michael Farmer, administrative manager in the training division.

With approximately 2,000 military service members and veterans working for the Michigan Department of Corrections, we are honored to recognize those who have served and continue to serve to defend our freedoms. We thank the MDOC Operational Excellence Military Team for their work to establish the first department-wide "Veterans Appreciation Week," beginning Monday, November 6 through Friday, November 10. Every MDOC worksite will be participating in activities honoring the department's military employees throughout the week. Our guests in this episode are team members Jeanette (Jay) Cox, newly promoted to departmental technician for the CFA Deputy Director's Office and Warden Tom Winn from Saginaw Correctional Facility.

There's no shortage of great leadership in the corrections industry and as a Field Days Podcast listener you'll hear from two in this new episode. Kevin Kempf, executive director of the Association of State Correctional Administrators and former guest on the podcast sings praises about MDOC staff and shares his appreciation for their hard work to champion offender success. Kempf talks about what’s next in terms of moving the needle in elevating the corrections profession. John Baldwin, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections provides us insight into what his state and staff are uniquely doing on the reentry side of corrections in order to achieve and maintain a 25% reduction in prison population. Director Washington also shares a few remarks on employee engagement and future goals.

Governor Rick Snyder made his way to the second Vocational Village at Parnall Correctional Facility for a hands-on experience. Fortunately, for the Field Days podcast crew, he had a few minutes to share his thoughts on the program and where he sees the program going. Without hesitation Snyder thanks the Director and all corrections staff for the around the clock work they do to keep Michigan residents safe. Also, in this episode Director Washington steps in as a co-host.

At the Association of State Correctional Administrators Midwest Directors Conference Director Washington sits alongside two past directors of the department as Field Days Podcast guests. Ken McGinnis director from 1991 to 1999 and Pat Caruso, who was the first female director in MDOC history from 2003 to 2010 recall their biggest accomplishments and struggles as director.

This week on Field Days Podcast, Chris and Greg discuss a variety of fun topics and give an update on what's been going on in the department the past couple of weeks.

Roger French, a Prison Counselor at the Newberry Correctional Facility, has talents that extend beyond prison walls and have gained statewide recognition. He was recently selected by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan as a Girls' State Coach of the Year and was also named Coach of the Year for his region. In this episode, Greg and Chris talk to French about how his coaching helped bring the Engadine Eagles basketball team to the MHSAA Tournament.

The State Employees Charitable Campaign begins Sept. 18 and provides an opportunity for staff to give back to their communities by contributing to any of the more than 1,000 charities supported by the annual fundraiser. Last year Michigan Department of Corrections employees raised $97,872 through payroll deduction donations alone. Tune in to hear from Heather Travis, Program Director of the State Employees Charitable Campaign, on how your donated dollars help local organizations provide services to those in need. Visit www.misecc.org for more information about the campaign.