JMCC Profile

Dan Fellin, MS, CJM, Detention Division Chief, Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, Aspen, Colorado

Hello, my name is Dan Fellin, MS, CJM. I ended up in Colorado after growing up in New Jersey until moving away for Colorado. I graduated from Penn State with my bachelor's degree and attended the University of New Haven for my master's degree. After getting my master's degree from the University of New Haven, I pursued a career in law enforcement and ended up in Correction. I have not looked back since.

I decided to enter the field of corrections and make it my career because… initially as the way into law enforcement, I soon realized the impact I can have on someone's life who is undoubtedly going through the toughest moments of their life at the time. Being able to see the one in ten or twenty I can help make meaningful changes is what keeps me here.

What quote do you find to be the most inspirational and why? "The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons" by Dostoevsky. This was what I first learned from my former boss when I came to work here. I am a firm believer in helping those I can, and giving opportunities to all until proven otherwise. Everyone should be given an initial chance, and then change tactics if necessary. This quote has helped me go through the process of asking the question "why not" instead of "why".

Explain what you feel is the importance of professional jail certification? Certifications are ways that you can show everyone around you that you are knowledgeable and have experience in what you do. It gives line-level staff goals to work towards and helps advance their careers. Not only do you know that you have the knowledge, you can also show others that you do with a certification.

Who has been the most influential person in your life? How have they helped you become the person you are today? The most influential person in my life has been my father. I know it's cliche, and did not fully realize it until I was older, but can now appreciate working hard and making it look easy for my family. He taught me that putting family first and hard work can get you to any goals you have for family and yourself.

The hardest thing I have ever done is... The hardest thing I have ever done was build a house. Living in employee housing and limited options, I worked as the GC to tear down our old house and build a new one to triple the space we had for my family all while working fulltime at work.