Connect at AJA's Conference & Jail Expo
Join us for the 2025 AJA Conference & Jail Expo in Fort Worth, Texas!
Fort Worth, the 12th-largest city in the US, is renowned for its Texas hospitality and diverse cultural districts. Just a short ride from the convention center, you'll find the historic Stockyards, featuring:
- The world's only twice-daily long horn cattle drive
- Bill Bob's Texas, the world's largest honky-tonk
- The John Wayne Musuem
- Mule Alley, a collection of restaurants, eateries, entertainment venues, and shops
- Wild West salons
Enjoy the connected downtown area with the 37-block Sundance Square entertainment district, stunning museums in the Cultural District, the Botanic Garden, and the nearby Fort Worth Zoo.
Both the Omni Fort Worth and Sheraton Fort Worth are less than a 5-minute walk from the convention center. The newly renovated Sheraton is a scene walk through the park to the convention center, while the Omni, located directly across the street, showcases Wild West decor, including in its sleeping rooms. Both hotels offer exceptional dining options, lounges, and bars for networking. Numerous dining and nightlife options are also within walking distance.
Come for the training and take advantage of all that Fort Worth has to offer for a truly memorable experience!
Who Attends AJA's Conference?
AJA's conference delivers training, education, and networking opportunities to a variety of attendees, including:
- Officers
- Trainers
- Supervisors
- Administrators
- Sheriffs
- Corrections Professionals & Consultants
- Public Information Officers
- Corrections Healthcare Professionals
- Civilian Employees
- Criminal Justice Professionals
- Purchasing Agents
- Criminal Justice Educators
Important Dates to Remember
Deadline for Advance Registration.........April 5, 2025 (Save $45!)
Deadline for Housing...............................April 22, 2025 (Omni Fort Worth)
Deadline for Housing...............................April 22, 2025 (Sheraton)
Deadline for Regular Registration..........May 6, 2025*
*Register onsite after May 6, 2025
Save $45 by joining AJA or renewing your membership!
2025 Conference Schedule
This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Visit aja.org for more information and updates.
Saturday, May 17
7am – 5pm Attendee Registration
8am – 5pm Partnership Saturday
1pm – 5pm Exhibitor Registration/Exhibitor Setup
5pm – 6:30pm Welcome Reception
Sunday, May 18
7am – 7pm Attendee & Exhibitor Registration
7:30am – 8am First-Time Attendees: Welcome to AJA
8am – 9am Nondenominational Worship Service
8am – 3pm Exhibitor Setup
8am – 5pm Jail Tours Sign-Up
8am – 11:15am Workshops
11:30 am – 1pm AJA Opening Luncheon & Business Meeting
1:15pm – 5pm Workshops
Times TBA Jail Tours
2pm – 4pm iConnect Live Sessions
5:15pm – 7pm Jail Expo Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Reception
7pm – 10pm Hospitality Events
Monday, May 19
7:30am – 5pm Attendee Registration
8:30am – 10am Plenary Session with Keynote Speaker
8am – 2pm Exhibitor Registration
10am – 2pm Jail Expo
10:15am – 12:05pm iConnect Live Sessions
Times TBA Jail Tours
2pm – 5:15pm Workshops
6pm – 10pm Hospitality Events
Tuesday, May 20
Criminal Justice Student Day
7:30am – 2pm Attendee Registration
8:30am – 9:30am AJA President’s Initiative Session
9am – 11am Exhibitor Registration
9:30am – 11am Criminal Justice Student Q&A
9:30am – 12:30pm Jail Expo
10:15am – 11:05am iConnect Live Sessions
Times TBA Jail Tours
12:30pm – 5:30pm Workshops
6pm – 7pm Awards Reception
7pm – 9pm AJA Annual Awards Banquet
9pm – Midnight Club AJA
Wednesday, May 22
7:30am – 10am Attendee Registration
8:00am – 11:15am Workshops
11:30am – 12:30pm Closing Session
Conference Venue
Fort Worth Convention Center
1201 Houston St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Meet Your Host
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
The Tarrant County Jail has been called the "Cadillac model of jails" and that comes as no surprise to Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn. "Ours is the duty to do, and God has the results." It's like running a small city.
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) Jail (TCJ) operates four jail facilities ranging from 444 to 2,119 inmates and provides security for the county courts.
The jail books in approximately 41,000 inmates annually with an average daily population of 4,400. The majority of those, 66%, have mental health issues and nearly 50% enter the facility with chronic illnesses. Given those numbers, the TCJ is the largest mental health facility in the country. To best serve the mental and medical needs of those incarcerated, we have great partners at John Peter Smith Hospital (JPS) and My Health My Resources (MHMR).
The jail has two infirmaries that provide medical care to incarcerated individuals 24/7. Incarcerated individuals can request a medical visit through the tablet or KITE system and a medical staff member is dispatched to their cell. JPS medical staff treat anything from a headache to more acute illnesses - and can even conduct dialysis treatments on-site. Incarcerated individuals needing more complicated medical care are transported to JPS Hospital which is just minutes away.
Last year, Tarrant County Jail Detention Officers made more than 44,000 referrals to our mental health provider, My Health My Resources. Our detention officers are advocates for our inmates! Sheriff Waybourn also believes in the competency restoration of incarcerated individuals. In 2024, the State of Texas restored 750 people to competency to stand trial and more than half of those (430) came from Tarrant County.
Sheriff Waybourn firmly believes that "a large percentage of inmates will be released from custody one day, re-enter the community, and become our neighbors. So, what do we want that to look like?" We want to set them up for success and give them the tools to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to the community.
With that attitude in mind, our Inmate Services Division partners with more than 30 organizations to provide re-entry classes. The programs offered range from the Military Veterans Program and Life Skills courses to educational opportunities through the Tarrant County College program, including a virtual welding program.
There are close to 50 unique services that are offered by those groups, with 85 volunteers. There are also 34 religious-based classes with 160 volunteers.
Sheriff Waybourn is extremely proud of the positive and supportive work culture at TCSO. He's an engaged leader who is mindful of the mental health of his team. He frequently checks in on the detention staff working in the jail to ensure they're taking care of themselves.
Ask him about the staff working at TCSO and his face lights up. Like a proud father, he publicly praises the hardworking and award-winning professionals at TCSO. In fact, many members of this incredible team were honored at the 2023 AJA Conference with the following rewards:
- Large Jail Innovative Program Award: Military Veterans Program
- Correctional Supervisor of the Year: Sgt. Albert Mercado
- Correctional Training Officer of the Year: Captain Latoya Jackson
- Civilian Employee of the Year: Chaplain Wesley McDuffie
- Volunteer of the Year: Chaplain Services Catholic Charities of Fort Worth
- 2024 Texas Jail Association Jerry Baggs Leadership Award: Chief Charles Eckett
"It's a great honor to welcome the men and women from across the country dedicated to the field of Detention," said Sheriff Waybourn. "I stand proudly with you on the wall protecting those from good and evil."
Sheriff Waybourn and the dedicated staff at TCSO extend a Texas-sized welcome to Fort Worth! We are honored to host AJA's 2025 Annual Conference & Jail Expo at the Fort Worth Convention Center, May 17-21, 2025.
Jail Expo
We would like to acknowledge the current exhibitors and sponsors of the 2025 conference in the list below, as of December 18, 2025. Visit the Exhibitor Page on our website for the updated list.
4Sight Labs………………………………..541
www.4sightlabs.com
Amazon Web Services…………………..517
APIC Solutions……………………………633
Aramark……………………………………501
www.aramark.com
Beacon Software Solutions, Inc………..722
www.beacons.com
Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp…322
blackcreekisc.com
Blue Knight Corporation………………….634
www.blueknightcorporation.us
Bob Barker Company……………………..309
Boswell Pharmacy…………………………226
www.boswellpharmacy.com
CGL Companies……………………………539
Chestnut Ridge Foam, Inc…………………234
Clinical Solutions Pharmacy………………112
www.clinicalsolutionspharmacy.com
Combined Public Communications……….223
www.cpcjail.com
Contract pharmacy Services (Polaris Pharmacy Services)….807
www.contractpharmacy.com
CorrHealth…………………………………………315
www.mycorrhealth.com
Custom Technologies……………………………..924
Elmridge Protection Products, LLC………………324
www.elmridgeprotection.com
Fastcase…………………………………………….215
Guard1 by Timekeeping Systems……………….222
www.guard1.com
GUARDIAN RFID………………………………….608
www.guardianrfid.com
Harvest Solutions………………………………….702
www.harvestsolutions.io
Heritage Health Solutions…………………………537
www.heritagehealthsolutions.com
HomeWAV……………………………………………330
www.homewav.com
Humane Restraint Co., Inc………………………….233
www.humanerestraint.com
Indivior…………………………………………………603
Keefe Group…………………………………………..615
www.keefe.com
Laundry Loops Inc…………………………………….723
www.laundryloops.com
Legal Research Associate…………………………….217
www.lranet.com
LexisNexis……………………………………………..207
www.lexisnexis.com/corrections
LINEV Systems US, Inc………………………………….111
www.linevsystems.com
M&M Micro Systems Inc…………………………………..545
Max-Secure Systems Inc………………………………….625
www.max-secure.com
MHS Inc……………………………………………………441
www.mhs.com
Mitek………………………………………………………..306
Naphcare…………………………………………………..334
National Commission on Correctional Health Care……635
www.ncchc.org
NCIC Inmate Communications…………………………..302
www.ncic.com
Norix Group, Inc……………………………………………107
www.norix.com
Northpointe dba equivant……………………………….523
www.equivant-Corrections.com
OD Security North America LLC………………………415
www.odsecurityna.com
Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems, Inc…………………….519
www.corrections-fit.com
Pace Systems…………………………………………….540
www.pacescheduler.com
Pay Tel Communications, Inc.……………………………..231
www.paytel.com
Physician Correctional, USA……………………………..515
www.physiciancorrectionalusa.com
Secure Technology Value Solutions (STVS)………….531
www.securetechvs.com
Securus Technologies………………………………….703
www.securustechnologies.tech
Smart Communications…………………………………321
Smiths Detection, Inc……………………………………607
SPACEWORX INC………………………………………709
TBS 2nd Chance…………………………………………725
Tek84, Inc…………………………………………………..508
www.tek84.com
The Way to Happiness Foundation………………………727
Trinity Services Group……………………………………..614
Turnkey Corrections & Kimble’s Correction……………611
www.turnkeycorrections.com
Tyler Technologies…………………………………………211
Utility, Inc…………………………………………………203
www.utility.com
ViaPath Technologies…………………………………..145
www.viapath.com
Victory Supply…………………………………………….814
www.victorysupplyinc.com
Vistar Corrections…………………………………………711
www.vistar.com
Wellpath……………………………………………………..214
www.wellpathcare.com
Wexford Health Sources, Inc……………………………..314
Whalls Group LLC……………………………………………..535
Willo……………………………………………………………..623
Willoughby Industries…………………………………………..218
www.willoughby-ind.com
YesCare…………………………………………………………..619
www.yescarecorp.com
Future Exhibitors and Sponsors:
With access to key decision-makers during dedicated Jail Expo hours, AJA's Conference gives you the best access to your targeted audience to showcase your products and services.
To purchase your 2025 booth, visit our Exhibitor Page!
You can also stand out from the crowd and become a sponsor! Descriptions for all 2025 sponsorships can be found here.
2025 Workshop Overview
This workshop listing is tentative and subject to change. Check www.aja.org for more offerings as we add topics of critical interest to jail professionals.
Partnership Saturday, May 17
Our participating partners this year are:
- Jails and Justice Support Center
- BJA CorWellness
- National Commission on Correctional Health Care
Special Saturday Sessions*
- Your Leadership Journey - by Brenda Dietzman, presented by Justice Clearinghouse
- Executive Leadership - by Dr. Randy Garner
*prices not included in conference registration. Visit www.aja.org for more information.
Changing and Improving Culture
- Holistic Facility Safety
- The Challenges of Responsibility: Why is it So Hard to take Responsibility for Our Own Mistakes?
- Correctional Officers Influence - Your Voice Matters
- Why the Badge Matters
- Time Management: Where Does Your Time Go Versus Where Should it Go?
- Including the Excluded: Reaching Staff Who Don't Feel They Belong
- Battling Burnout to Quell Quiet Quitting
- Improving Jail Climate and Culture Through Procedural Justice Training
Classification and Programming Challenges
- Getting Schooled: Successful SPED Education in Corrections
- Safe Space: Classification and Housing Strategies for Transgender and High-Risk Individuals
- Emotional Support and Advocacy: Untangling and Moving Beyond the PREA Standards
- AJA: Learn What AJA Can Do for You!
- Starting Something from Nothing: Implementing Women-Specific Programming to Address Protective Factors for Successful Reentry
Emerging Issues
- Corrections K9 - Start to Finish
- Jail Data Spotlight: Incarceration Trends and the Health of the Inmate Populations
- You Only Get One Shot to Do it Right
- Contraband Interdiction: The Intel Resource
- Building and Remodeling Individuals' Lives During and After Incarceration
Jail Technology
- Artificial Intelligence in Corrections: Balancing Promise and Peril
Leading in 2025
- Transformative Leadership: Crafting Culture and Inspiring Change
- Motivational Interviewing
- Leading with Insight: Cultivating Self-Awareness for Effective Leadership
- Professional Courage: Leading in a Challenging Environment
- Raising the Bar: A Look at Performance Reviews
- Leading Boomers to Zoomers: Generational Differences and the Impact on Recruitment, Retention, and the Workplace Culture
Medical and Mental Health Issues: Adversity and Solutions
- Closing the Revolving Door: A Different Approach to Reentry and Recidivism
- Competency Restoration: An Emergency Solution to the Mental Health Crisis
- How to Build Correctional Health RFPs to Reduce Lawsuits and Improve Outcomes
- Reinventing Correctional Care to Address a Changing and Complex Jail Population
- Preventing Suicide in Jails: Effective Strategies for Safety and Compliance
Risk, Liability, and Legal Issues
- Legal Issues: Parts 1 & 2
- Behavior Management Teams: Managing Difficult Inmates Parts 1 & 2
- Jail Suicide Litigation: Save Lives and Avoid Lawsuits
- Achieving a Comprehensive Use of Force Review
- Religious Rights: An Ever-Changing Landscape
- Creating and Supporting a Corrections Tactical Team
Staff Wellness
- Navigating Personal Journeys: Mastering Your Individual Race
- Wellbeing in Corrections: New Research in Resilience and Developing Your Own Toolkit
- Building a Foundation for Success: Why Trauma-Informed Culture Change is the Key to Effective Wellness Programs
- Table Talk: Engaging Employees in Organizational Wellness Through Innovative Initiatives
- Safety Starts with You: Reducing Workplace Injuries and Assaults
- Mindfulness-Based Wellness & Resiliency for Jail Professionals
- See Something, Say Something is Not Enough! Learn how Active Bystandership can Prevent Harm!
Tribal Jails: Confronting Change
- Healthy Eating and Healthy Choices
- Out with the Old, In with the New
- Virtual Recovering is a Thing and We're Going to Light it Up!
- Keeping Them In, Safe and Healthy
- Introduction to Tribal Jails - Navigating Change
- BIA and Tribal Jails Update
Texas: Challenges in the Lone Star State
- Mental Health De-escalation
- Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Risk-Based Inspection Process
- Special Programs Inside Texas Jails
- Texas: Collaboration is the Key to Progress
2025 Conference Housing
Hotel Rates*
*Plus applicable taxes and service charges. Subject to change without notification
Omni Fort Worth (Host Hotel
1300 Houston Street
Sheraton Forth Worth Downtown Hotel
1701 Commerce Street
Conference Registration Information
Register and Save!
Take advantage of AJA's Early Bird Special and do not miss any of the workshops, training, and networking offered at the AJA's 44th Conference & Jail Expo!
Advance Registration
rates are available from January 18 – April 5, 2025 for $420 for AJA members; $550 for nonmembers.
Regular Registration
is available from April 6 – May 5, 2025, and onsite for $465 for AJA members; $595 for nonmembers.
Save $45 by joining AJA or renewing your membership!
Payment and Confirmation
Payment is required prior to the start of the conference and must be made with a credit card, check, or purchase order. Online registrants who pay by credit card receive immediate confirmation and payment receipt. Registrants submitting via email, mail, or fax receive email confirmation within three weeks of receipt. One week prior to the conference, you are sent a Fast Track email to bring with you for check-in at the AJA registration desk. If you do not receive a Fast Track email, please call Michele Florian at 301-857-2233. Badges and materials are distributed onsite.
Cancellations/Refunds
No refunds are given unless a written request is received on or before April 6, 2025. After this date, 40% of the conference fee can be refunded upon written request due to the costs associated with planning on attendance. No refunds are given after May 5, 2025. Delegate substitutions are allowed at any time, but AJA must be notified in writing.
Guest Registration
To qualify for the guest registration fee, the registrant cannot be employed in the field of corrections and must be a spouse/guest of a paying member/nonmember registrant. Guest registration provides access to all workshops and professional sessions, the Sunday Luncheon & Business Meeting, Jail Expo with lunch vouchers on Monday and Tuesday, and the AJA Awards Reception and Banquet on Tuesday night.
Full-Time Student Registration
To qualify for the full-time student registration fee, the registrant must be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited, degree-granting institution, and cannot be employed full-time in the field of corrections. A copy of student identification is required with the registration form. Student registration provides access to all workshops and professional sessions, the Sunday Luncheon & Business Meeting, Jail Expo with lunch vouchers on Monday and Tuesday, and the AJA Awards Reception and Banquet on Tuesday Night.
Block Registration
To obtain a block registration for 10 individuals or more – all at the member conference rate – contact Michele Florian at 301-857-2233 or michelef@aja.org.
Non-Exhibiting Companies
Companies who are not exhibiting and who wish to attend the workshops and/or Jail Expo must register as a non-exhibiting company. To learn more about exhibiting, go to aja.org or email scottl@aja.org.
Media/Photography
By participating in AJA’s Conference & Jail Expo, you give the American Jail Association permission to photograph and/or record you and your voice on still photographs, motion picture film, audiotape and/or videotape, or any digital recording medium and to use this material, in whole or in part, through the media of television, film, internet, multimedia presentation, radio, audiotape, videotape, magazine, or in printed form or display form for the promotion of American Jail Association activities. This pertains to all attendees and exhibitors.