The President’s Initiative took place on Tuesday morning, led by President Shawn Laughlin, MCJ, CJM, David Scharf, the Executive Director for the BSO Community Programs Division, AJA Past President Elias Diggins, and Chief Judge Jack Tuter. The panel discussed how important correctional officers are to public safety. As Scharf said, law enforcement is not like what we see on TV crime dramas, “at the end of the show, while they’re rolling the credits, you see the bad guy put in the back of the car and that’s the end of the show…but those of us in this room, we understand that’s only the beginning of the process.” However, the importance of what correctional professionals do has such an impact on the whole criminal justice system.

The panelists discussed how correctional officers impact the criminal justice system in various ways, including the judicial side of the system. Chief Judge Tuter discussed his own experience with local corrections from his position in the court system. He spoke about the staggering population of those with mental health issues, the struggles that correctional professionals face daily, and the stress on the jail system.

Sheriff Diggins then spoke about how when he became a sheriff, it was a different world and his accomplishments in his career. One of these accomplishments was a Competency Restoration Program that would help get incarcerated individuals processed and through the criminal justice system. They now, “not only have the beds that [they] began with, but [they’ve] expanded that program and continuing to look at adding more beds.”

Laughlin also discussed National Correctional Officers Week, which began 40 years ago when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first week of May to celebrate correctional officers as the unsung heroes of law enforcement and criminal

On Sunday, May 19, around 500 people attended AJA’s Opening Luncheon & Business Meeting during the 43rd Conference & Jail Expo in Fort Lauderdale. Held in the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, attendees listened to President Louis Quiñones, Jr., CJM, CCE, discuss AJA’s accomplishments in the past year, watched the installation of the new Board members, and heard remarks from new AJA President Shawn Laughlin, MCJ, CJM.

AJA Executive Director Chris Daniels, MPA, CAE, began the meeting by introducing the Executive Committee and welcoming the professionals who work hard every day to improve and elevate the corrections industry. Chaplain Linda Ahrens, MBA, then offered the invocation before lunch was served. After the meal, Mr. Daniels introduced President Louis Quiñones, CJM, CEE. Before officially beginning the meeting, he requested a moment of silence to remember those who are no longer with us: “They have been our friends and co-workers and have contributed so much to the profession and their communities. We will never forget them.” President Quiñones then called the meeting to order. The first report was from AJA’s Treasurer, Eddie Lance. He reported that AJA’s total revenues for 2023 were $1,879,756 compared to $2,141,069 in 2022. For the full financial report ending December 31, 2023, refer to page 68.

President Quiñones recognized the accomplishments AJA has made in the last year, stating that collaboration encapsulates all AJA has done: “AJA has worked tirelessly to be a voice for our profession,” by representing corrections professionals on Capitol Hill and offering training, leadership development, and professional certifications through AJA’s expertise and access to subject matter experts. President Quiñones noted that AJA currently offers three certifications—Certified Jail Manager (CJM), Certified Jail Supervisor (CJS), and Certified Jail Officer (CJO), with plans to launch the Certified Jail Trainer (CJT) and Certified Jail Manager-Executive Level (CJM-EX) later this year. He then recognized the Chair of the Jail Manager Certification Commission, Amber Redmond, CJM, the Commission’s Vice-Chair, John Johnson, Ph.D., CJM and Commissioners Reese Walker, CJM, Danielle Frane, CJM, CCE, CCHP, and Dorothy Harris, MBA, CJM.

Deputy Director Redmond was happy to report that the current certification numbers are 235 CJMs, 48 CJSs, 594 CJOs, and 62 CJO Agency Liaisons. She then announced that Captain Leon Valqueir from the Douglas County Department of Corrections and Chief Dan Fellin from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office has been appointed as new commissioners. They will serve a four-year and five-year term, respectively. John Johnson will serve as the new commission chair.