Recognizing the BEST of the BEST
Award Nominations
The American Jail Association honors exceptional individuals and governmental or tribal correctional facilities that advance innovative, progressive jail practices.
The Awards Committee invites nominatiosn 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 Nomination Standard
Each award recognizes performance that clearly exceeds the normal expectations of the nominee's position or role. A complete nomination must include specific examples showing how the nominee meets the award criteria, with measurable or observable outcomes and supporting documentation strongly encouraged when available. An award need not be presented annually and will be withheld, in any category or facility-size class, when no nomination meets the award's standards.
Francis R. "Dick" Ford Distinguished Service Award
Recognizes a lifetime of professional excellence in the field of local corrections, named in honor of the AJA's first Executive Director.
- Any individual, active or retired, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a sincere commitment to the professional advancement of jails and their operations is eligible.
- The nominee 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 to the profession, 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 will be withheld when no nominee meets the award's high standards.
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 include the official incident report, witness statements, and any command review, with letters of commendation or police reports when available. A jail administrator must attest to the account.
Innovation Awards
Recognizes correctional facilities that developed and implemented an innovative program, practice, technology, or operational solution that meaningfully improved local jail operations. Facility categories: large (1,000 or more beds), medium (100 to 999 beds), small (fewer than 100 beds). 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.
An award will be withheld in any facility-size category when no nomination meets the standard.
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. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- Addressed significant operational 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 its staff.
- Implemented or materially improved staff development, operations, inmate programs, or safety systems.
- Impact beyond the routine expectations of the position, with documentation strongly encouraged when available.
- Where applicable, leadership or influence that benefited local jail leadership beyond the nominee's own facility.
Correctional Supervisor of the Year Award
Recognizes a supervisor who demonstrated exceptional leadership, staff development, and operational effectiveness beyond the normal expectations of supervisory duty. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- Coaches, develops, and holds staff accountable in ways that improve performance.
- Builds teamwork, ethical conduct, and professional commitment.
- Improves morale, communication, retention, safety, or unit culture through identifiable actions.
- Impact beyond the normal expectations of the role, with documentation strongly encouraged when available.
Correctional Training Officer of the Year Award
Recognizes a certified correctional trainer who made an exceptional contribution to the professional development of jail personnel. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- 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.
- Impact such as improved performance, fewer incidents, or stronger compliance, with documentation strongly encouraged when available.
Candidate must be a certified trainer as defined by the applicable state regulatory body or the employing agency.
Correctional Officer of the Year Award
Recognizes an officer whose sustained performance and professionalism clearly exceed the normal expectations of the position. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- Consistently demonstrates sound judgment, integrity, reliability, and initiative.
- Contributes meaningfully to facility safety, security, or inmate management.
- Supports coworkers and unit goals, such as willingly learning new posts or accepting added duties when the opportunity arises.
- Is recognized by peers and supervisors as an example of exceptional performance.
- Impact beyond competent completion of assigned duties, with documentation strongly encouraged when available.
Correctional Officer of the Year Award, 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. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- 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.
- Impact beyond competent completion of assigned duties, with documentation strongly encouraged when available.
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. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- 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.
- Contribution beyond the normal expectations of the position, with documentation of the benefit to the facility, staff, or those it serves strongly encouraged when available.
Volunteer Employee of the Year Award
Recognizes an individual whose unpaid service to a governmental or tribal correctional facility made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the facility, its staff, inmates, or programs. A credible nomination should describe, with specific examples, one or more of the following:
- 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.
- Service that clearly exceeds ordinary volunteer participation, with documentation of the benefit strongly encouraged when available.
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 Wednesday, December 30, 2026.
Nomination Requirements:
A complete 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 presented is accurate.
- Supporting materials, such as commendations, incident reports, news articles, program records, photographs, or letters of endorsement, are strongly encouraged when available but are not required unless specifically stated for an individual award.
The Awards Committee may request clarification, verification, or additional information when needed. Nominations consisting primarily of general praise, without specific examples or sufficient evidence of exceptional performance, may be declined.