|
History of the National Conference of
Women Working In Corrections and Juvenile Justice
by Dr. Joann B. Morton
Women have been involved in correctional work in the United States since the 1700’s. Their early efforts were
primarily focused on system reform and work with adult and juvenile female offenders. In 1972, following the expansion
to state and local government of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women began entering corrections in ever-increasing
numbers. According to the American Correctional Association’s 2002 Directory women make up over 34% of the personnel
in adult correction agencies and almost 40% of the staff working in the juvenile justice system. These numbers included
women in all job categories throughout state level correctional systems.
In the beginning, women working in corrections were often isolated in their work settings so periodically they
arranged to meet on a national level. These meetings primarily involved administrators of adult and juvenile
female offender institutions leaving other women employed in corrections without the opportunity to share information
and to support each other. As the number of women in the field increased, so did the need for broad based professional
development, career planning, and networking opportunities.
Recognizing the need for more developmental experiences for women, Dr. Bruce Wolford, of the Department of Correctional
Services, Eastern Kentucky University organized a group from the Kentucky Corrections Cabinet and the Department
of Social Services to develop what became the first National Conference for Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile
Justice. Under the leadership of Linda Boling, the first program was held at Eastern Kentucky University in 1985. It
attracted over 350 participants and was cosponsored by the Kentucky Department of Social Services, the Kentucky Corrections
Cabinet, and Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Corrections Services.
Following this meeting, Dr. Gayle Glasser from Oregon and Dr. Joann B. Morton from South Carolina requested to host
the National Conference in their states. Some 150 women met at the Second National Conference held in Portland Oregon
in 1989. Chaired by Dr. Glasser, it was co-hosted by the Oregon Department of Corrections, the Oregon Division of
Children’s Services, and Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Correctional Services.
With the theme of “Remembering the Past: Preparing for the Future," the 3rd National Conference was held
in Charleston, South Carolina in June 1990. It was chaired by Joann B. Morton and sponsored by the South Carolina
Correctional Association. This was the first time the conference was sponsored by a state correctional association. Cosponsors
were the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Probation, Parole
and Pardon Services, the Alston Wilkes Society, the College of Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina,
and Eastern Kentucky University.
During the preparations for the third conference Joann Morton contacted Jim Aiken, then Director of the Indiana Department
of Corrections about sponsoring the next meeting in his state. He enthusiastically agreed and the 4th National Conference
was held in September 1992 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attended by over 400 people, it was directed by Pamela H. Cline and
was sponsored by the Indiana Department of Corrections in cooperation with Eastern Kentucky University.
Following the decision by Dr. Wolford that the conference no longer needed the involvement of Eastern Kentucky,
Joann Morton and Judy Anderson from South Carolina undertook the task of finding sponsorship for the next meeting. After
several discussions with leading women in the field, it was decided to hold the conference every other year on opposite
years from the National Workshop on Adult and Juvenile Female Offenders since a number of women participated in both
meetings. After some problems in finding a state in which both the director and leading women were willing to host the
conference, Margaret Moore, then with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, agreed to seek sponsorship of the
program by her agency. Modeled on the structure used with the National Workshop on Adult and Juvenile Female Offenders,
Ms. Moore established a National Advisory Board to develop support for the conference and a national focus for the program.
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was the site for the 5th National Conference in April 1995, sponsored by the Pennsylvania
Department of Corrections, the Department Public Welfare, and the Juvenile Court Judges Association. Co-chaired
by Mary Leftridge-Byrd and Kathy Zwierzyna, it was the first meeting with an attendance over 500. At this conference
the National Advisory Board’s Site Selection Committee, chose the Michigan Department of Corrections as the
sponsor of the sixth conference.
The Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, and the Women’s Criminal
Justice Association of Michigan hosted the 6th National Conference. Chaired by Luella R. Burke and Pam Withrow it
was attended by more than 900 people and was the first Conference in which the program chairs were selected from
out of state. Lurline Baker-Kent from Minnesota and Alethea Camp, retired from NIC put together one of the most
dynamic program to date.
The Director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections offered to sponsor the 7th Conference in 1998. Chaired
by Robin Spindler and Inga Hookstra, it was the first conference held in conjunction with the Federal Bureau
of Prison. Sharon Neumann from Oklahoma was the program chair.
The Great State of Texas was the site of the 8th Conference in 2000. Held in Houston with the theme of “Power
Tools”, the conference chair Susan Cranford ensured a great time was had by all. Sharon Johnson Rion was the
program chair and volunteered to seek sponsorship of the 9th Conference by Tennessee in 2002.
In 2002, the State of Tennessee hosted the 9th Conference in Memphis. Linda Dodson chaired the conference with
Susan McMillan serving as program chair. The conference theme, Reaching Beyond Borders: Seizing Opportunities
and Creating Partnerships, provided a variety of speakers along with the participation of criminal justice
professionals throughout the United States that provided opportunities for professional and personal growth.
In 2004, the 10th Conference was hosted by the State of Maryland, held in Baltimore, and chaired by Patricia Phelps
Schupple, Conference Chair. In celebration of the 20 years the Conference has existed, the theme was: Honoring the Past,
Celebrating the Present, and Envisioning the Future. Workshops addressed different disciplines and levels within the
organization, focus on correctional leadership and ethics, personal growth and wellness, and introduce innovative model
programs and strategies.
In 2006 the 11th Conference was hosted by the Grand Canyon State of Arizona, held in Phoenix, and chaired
by Mary Ann Roder. On the 22nd year of the Conference existence, the theme was: “Inspiring Excellence”. A
variety of exciting speakers, along with workshops addressed correctional leadership and ethics, professional development,
evidence-based programming, personal growth and wellness, children and families, and celebrating successes.
The 2008, 12th Conference of WWIC/JJ
was hosted by the State of Iowa, held in Des Moines, and Co-Chaired by Jeanette Bucklew and Cheryl Meyer. In
celebration of the 24 years the Conference has existed, the conference theme was: Celebrate the Journey!
|
