The American Jail Association honors exceptional individuals and governmental or tribal correctional facilities that advance innovative, progressive jail practices.
The Awards Committee invites nominations so these practitioners and facilities can be recognized at AJA's 46th Conference & Jail Expo in Spokane, Washington, May 22-26, 2027.
Candidates must be employees of a governmental or tribal correctional facility.
General Nominee Standard
- Each award recognizes performance that clearly exceeds the normal expectations of the position or role.
- A complete nomination must include specific examples, supporting documentation, and measurable or observable results.
- An award need not be presented annually and should be withheld in any category or facility-size class when no nomination meets the standard.
Francis R. "Dick" Ford Distinguished Service Award
- Named in honor of the AJA's first Executive Director.
- Recognizes a lifetime of professional excellence in local corrections.
- Any individual, active or retired, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a sincere commitment to the professional advancement of jails is eligible.
- Nominees must also have been instrumental in either (a) implementing a program that improved the field of local corrections, or (b) building a body of work with positive impact beyond the nominee's own agency.
- Credible nominations must include examples of accomplishments demonstrating extraordinary leadership, vision, and devotion, including specific evidence of the program or broader impact described above.
- Nominees are not required to be members of the AJA.
- The award need not be presented annually and should be withheld when no nominee meets the award's high standards.
Innovation Awards
Recognizes facilities that developed and implemented an innovation that meaningfully improved local jail operations. Sizes: large (1,000+ beds), medium (100 to 999), small (fewer than 100). A credible nomination must:
Identify the specific problem or operational need addressed.
- Describe the innovation and how it differs from existing practice.
- State the results achieved, with measurable outcomes where available.
- Explain the benefit to safety, security, efficiency, cost, staff performance, or inmate outcomes.
Show a reasonable prospect of adoption by other agencies.
Valor Award
Recognizes a corrections professional whose specific action or actions were clearly above and beyond the call of duty. Qualifying conduct includes:
- An action of an extraordinary nature not normally required in the performance of duty.
- Unusual judgment, bravery, or ingenuity that averted or minimized a serious incident.
- Decisive action, presence of mind, and swiftness that protected the life or safety of any person in imminent danger.
- The nomination must be anchored in contemporaneous documentation: incident reports, witness statements, and any after-action or command review, with a jail administrator attesting to the account.
Ray Coleman Correctional Administrator of the Year Award
Recognizes an administrator who demonstrated exceptional leadership in managing and advancing a local jail beyond the routine duties of the position. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Addressed significant challenges such as crowding, mental health demand, staffing shortages, litigation, security, or budget constraints.
- Strengthened the professionalism, accountability, or public standing of the facility and staff.
- Implemented or materially improved staff development, operations, inmate programs, or safety systems.
- Produced documented results beyond the routine expectations of the position.
Where applicable, exercised leadership that benefited local jail leadership beyond the nominee's own facility.
Correctional Supervisor Officer of the Year Award
Recognizes a supervisor who demonstrated exceptional leadership, staff development, and operational effectiveness beyond the normal expectations of the role. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Coaches, develops, and holds staff accountable in ways that measurably improve performance.
- Builds teamwork, ethical conduct, and professional commitment.
- Improves morale, communication, retention, safety, or unit culture through identifiable actions.
- Led staff effectively through a significant operational challenge or change.
- Produced observable improvement within the area of responsibility.
Correctional Training Officer of the Year Award
Recognizes a certified correctional trainer who made an exceptional contribution to the professional development of jail personnel. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Developed, delivered, or materially improved training programs, curricula, or evaluation methods.
- Applied current standards, research, or instructional technology to jail training.
- Improved staff knowledge, performance, safety, or readiness.
- Sustained a commitment to training excellence beyond the routine expectations of the position.
- Produced documented results such as improved performance, fewer incidents, or stronger compliance.
Must be a certified trainer as defined by the applicable state regulatory body or employing agency.
Correctional Officer of the Year Award
Recognizes an officer whose sustained performance and professionalism clearly exceed the normal expectations of the position. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Consistently demonstrates sound judgment, integrity, reliability, and initiative.
- Contributes meaningfully to facility safety, security, or inmate management.
- Learns new posts, accepts added duties, and supports coworkers and unit goals.
- Is recognized by peers and supervisors as an example of exceptional performance.
Produced documented impact beyond competent completion of assigned duties.
Correctional Officer of the Year - Small Jail
Applies the same threshold as Correctional Officer of the Year, adapted to smaller facilities. A small jail is defined as fewer than 100 beds. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Demonstrates sound judgment, integrity, reliability, and initiative.
- Performs effectively across the multiple roles common to small-jail operations.
- Contributes to safety, security, teamwork, or inmate management under limited staffing and resources.
Produced documented impact beyond competent completion of assigned duties.
Civilian Employee of the Year Award
Recognizes a nonsworn employee whose exceptional service made a significant contribution to jail operations, staff effectiveness, or organizational performance. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Provides exceptional administrative, technical, clinical, logistical, or operational support.
- Demonstrates initiative, reliability, and commitment to the facility mission.
- Solves significant problems or improves processes that strengthen operations.
Contributed beyond the normal expectations of the position, with documented benefit to the facility, staff, or those it serves.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Recognizes an individual whose unpaid service made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the facility, its staff, inmates, or programs. Must show, with specific examples, that the nominee:
- Provided reliable, sustained service marked by professionalism and respect.
- Made a meaningful contribution to programs, reentry, religious services, education, treatment, or other mission areas.
- Addressed an identified need or improved outcomes for those the facility serves.
- Provided service that clearly exceeds ordinary volunteer participation, with documented benefit.
Service must be to the facility submitting the nomination.
Submit Your Nomination Online!
Please complete the nomination form found here. All nominations must be postmarked or emailed by December 30, 2026.
A completed nomination must include:
- A detailed narrative explaining how the nominee meets each applicable award criterion. Specific examples of actions, leadership programs, or results that distinguish the nominee from strong routine performance.
- Measurable or observable outcomes when available.
- Verification by the nominee's immediate supervisor, jail administrator, or agency head that the information is accurate.
- Supporting materials, such as commendations, incident reports, news articles, program records, photographs, or letters of endorsement are strongly encouraged when available, but not required unless specifically stated for an individual reward.
- The Committee may request clarification or additional information, and may decline nominations that offer only general praise without specific examples or sufficient evidence.