Pugsley Correctional Facility Newsletter about MPRI at Pugsley.

1. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
The Pugsley Connection
Keeping You Informed
August 2009
State Police Post Commander Jeffery Anthony and ARUS Dawn Ellsworth
LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS INVOLVED
When I was approached back in the fall of 2008 regarding participation in MPRI, my first thought
was, “What role could law enforcement possibly play in this initiative?” I have spent my entire
career trying to gather enough evidence to put criminals behind bars, not working to try to keep
them out of prison. I have long been a proponent of building more prisons and locking away those
who cannot play a positive role in society.
With some apprehension, I attended my first MPRI meeting to see what this new initiative was
really about. I was pleasantly surprised by the attendance of various professionals from multiple
disciplines, and the dedication they brought to this project. At the conclusion of the meeting, I
signed up to be the law enforcement representative on the steering team for the northeast 14
counties. It was clear that when it came to incarceration, my motto of, “If you build it, they will
come” was antiquated thinking and needed to be modernized. It was the proverbial “no-brainer”
when it came to my involvement.
First of all, it is important to clear up a common misconception about MPRI.
MPRI is not an “early release” program. All participants have completed at least their minimum
sentence. These individuals are going to be paroled anyway, so why not add some tools that
ensure the parolee has the best possible opportunity for a successful transition back into their
communities.
Many states, Michigan included, have historically done a poor job of preparing parolees for re-
entry into the general population. A vast majority often walked out of prison with limited
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2. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
transportation options, little or no financial support, no employment prospects, and most
significant, no place to stay. Is it any wonder that nearly half returned to a life of crime?
It should be clear to everyone that we cannot continue to warehouse all offenders. One of the
very best ways to reduce our prison population is to reduce the rate of recidivism. The benefits of
this reduction are numerous, including reduced burden on taxpayers, stronger family unity, and
safer communities.
As part of my participation in MPRI, I began doing a law enforcement workshop at Pugsley
Correctional Facility in Kingsley. I spend approximately 1 ½ hours talking with prisoners who are
about to be released. I was undeniably skeptical about what kind of reception a uniformed state
police officer would receive, but I could not be more pleased with the active dialogue and positive
response. My first session involved 12 participants with varying backgrounds. The initial reception
was lukewarm. However, as I provided examples of specific assistance I was willing to provide,
the eye contact increased and heads began to nod. There was some very positive discussion
throughout my presentation and afterward. I have since been contacted by two of those
individuals who are now out of prison and trying to rebuild their lives, and reconnect positively
with their families and communities.
I am pleased to report that I was able to assist both subjects with their issue of concern. The first
individual had a handgun registered in his name and stored at the residence he intended to
occupy when released. I was able to contact a relative and provide guidance on the removal and
sale of the weapon so that the parolee would not be in violation the moment he entered the
residence.
In the second instance, a parolee who is also a registered sex offender had been threatened by a
neighbor who believed that the parolee was violating his parole conditions. There was concern
that future incidents may result in an assault. I was able to speak with the subject’s parole agent
and determine that no violation had occurred. I then personally contacted the neighbor and
discussed the issue with him. At the conclusion of our conversation, he was satisfied with the
explanation of terms, and thanked me for taking the time to come to his residence and address
his concern. He agreed that had it not been for some type of police intervention, escalation was
inevitable. The parolee was equally pleased with the response and swift resolution of the potential
conflict.
These are just a couple of examples where law enforcers across the state can play a significant
role in the MPRI process. MPRI offers so much more to those who take advantage of the
opportunities presented. I strongly encourage law enforcement officials to educate yourself about
MPRI and use it as a tool to keep your community safe. Space does not permit a thorough review
of all law enforcement intervention potential, but I would suggest that you are only limited by your
initiative and resourcefulness.
In closing, I do not intend to imply that all participants will become solid citizens. I am very
realistic in my expectations, and I assure you that my number one goal is to catch those who
violate our citizenry. However, if preventing crime is truly a priority over solving a crime that has
already been committed, how can we as law enforcers pass up the opportunity to do just that? If
my participation keeps one parolee from returning to prison, that’ s money saved, family value
maintained, a safer community to live in, and one more bed available for the incorrigible.
Jeff Anthony is a 29 - year veteran police officer who is currently assigned as the post
commander for the Michigan State Police, West Branch and Gladwin Posts. He serves on
the MPRI Steering Team for the northeast 14 counties.
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3. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
“We are what we repeatedly do, EXCELLENCE,
therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
-Aristotle
COLLABORATIVE FOA News
CASE MANAGEMENT
Everyone has a “role” in Collaborative
Case Management
Facility Parole Agent - Dan Bard
Transition Team Members meet with
offenders as part of the In-Reach Process
Here at Pugsley Correctional Facility my
position of representative for FOA in a
collaborative effort to prepare parolees for
their return to the community is a unique
challenge. We receive program participants
about 60 days prior to their release and the
excitement and anxiety of this event is
moving. We have some participants who
have served less than a year of
incarceration, due to jail credits or violation
sanction, to offenders who have served over
20 years. This positive energy opens an
Collaborative Case Management Training opportunity to lend support or offer guidance
is coming to Pugsley to a population that may have been reluctant
9/8/09 10/5/09 in the past. Through programs on mentoring
9/14/09 10/12/09 or job preparation, up to meeting with their
9/21/09 10/19/09 parole agent prior to release, the goal
9/28/09 remains on making better citizens of this
population and in turn a safer community.
NEW TO PUGSLEY
I am pleased to announce that effective New Agent announced
August 23, 2009 Captain Joe Chudzinski will I am pleased to announce that Agent Patrick
begin employment with Pugsley Correctional Kochanny has accepted the agent position
Facility. He comes to us from Standish in Wexford County. Pat comes from the
Maximum Facility where he currently holds a Muskegon County Parole Office. He resides
Captain position. He will be assigned to 2nd in the Cadillac area and will be a great
shift. Please join me and congratulating him addition to the Wexford County Office. His
upon his arrival at MPF. tentative start date is September 8th.
Congratulations to Pat.
-Charles Kennard, Supervisor
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4. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
As the new supervisor of Antrim, Grand
NEW Parole Supervisors Traverse and Leelanau counties, I am both
Appointed excited and challenged to continue the
traditions and advancements of this regions
Charles Kennard & Charles Welch Have MPRI programming. We have seen first
been promoted to parole supervisors hand how Collaborative Case Management
and MPRI has not only been a positive
“Here is what they have to say” change in the way we all do business but
also a benefit to clients and the public by
I am extremely excited about my new role as creating a person more prepared for re-
Supervisor in Benzie, Manistee, Missaukee, entry. Doing so by brining together a team of
and Wexford Counties. I appreciate the motivated community based service
support of the Muskegon Area and my providers, CFA/ FOA staff and the client. I
dedicated staff. It is a privilege to supervise feel everyone's continued commitment to
individuals who are committed to ensuring these ideals will continue to enhance our
public safety as they wholeheartedly work overall goal and I am proud to have been
with offenders to make positive adjustments given this opportunity to contribute as part of
in their lives. We remain excited about the this team.
Collaborate Case Management process and
the positive impact it is having on offenders
in the field. We are fortunate to work closely
with the Pugsley Correctional Facility to
enhance offender’s successful transition into
the community while they are serving their
prison sentences. These shared efforts by
CFA and FOA enrich the entire Michigan
Department of Corrections.
Charles S. Welch, Supervisor
Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Antrim
Counties
328 Washington St.
Traverse City, MI 49684
Charles Kennard, Supervisor
Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, and Bill Catinella and Gordan Baas
Missaukee Counties recently retired from the MDOC.
"If you do what you've always Both were instrumental in the
done, development and implementation
You’ll get what you've always of MPRI in Northern Michigan.
gotten." Their Leadership, dedication and
-Anonymous service will be greatly missed. We
wish both of them the best and a
wonderful retirement ☺
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5. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Pugsley Correctional Facility
MPRI Unit
Pugsley Correctional Facility is expanding
the MPRI unit to include offender’s that are
within 18months of their Earliest Release
Date. Other criterion is that their parole
placement or county of conviction must be
within 1 of the 24 counties that are covered
by the facility through MPRI. The goal is to
fully engage these offenders in MPRI Phase
I of the MPRI Model and begin programming
that will assist them in Getting Ready to go
home. Our objective with this change is to
have our offenders working, housing and
participating in programming together.
Evidence shows that creating an
environment that is conducive to change can
increase an offender’s positive response to
Cynthia Follen: MPRI Facility Coordinator changing old behavior and thinking patterns.
Our goal is to create a unit where
Facility MPRI Updates everyone is working towards the same
goal .Going Home and Staying
Home.
New MPRI In-Reach Facility We will continue to provide Phase I
Effective October 1, 2009 Marquette Branch programming to all offenders housing at the
Prison Level I will become a MPRI In-Reach facility based on the programming
Facility serving the Upper Peninsula. As a assessment and COMPAS outcomes. We
result the Pugsley Correctional Facility will expect to have all offenders identified and
go from covering 39 counties to 24 counties. placed in the before October 1st.
Marquette Prison will serve as the facility of
release for offenders designated MPRI with Post ERD Expansion Project
a parole code of P-70 returning to Upper The Pugsley Correctional Facility recently
Peninsula counties. Marquette staff has trained three staff to assist in providing
been working with FOA and Community mandatory programming determined by the
Partners to develop specialized In-Reach Parole Board as part of the Post ERD
services that are unique to this area’s Expansion Project. Prisoners who are
demographics and service providers. Cross granted a D-52 (parole deferral for
training and assistance by the Pugsley programming) by the parole board must
Correctional Staff and the institutional Parole complete programming prior to release.
Agent has been taking place with the MDOC Operating Procedures have been
Marquette Staff to ensure the facility is ready developed and are effective Monday
for the transition by October 1st. 8/17/2009. Once a prisoner successfully
completes mandatory programming then the
New MPRI Prisoner Committee Parole Board will be notified and the
A “MPRI Prisoner Ad Hoc Committee” was prisoner will be issued a parole (P-70 code).
established at the facility to serve as a way Prisoners will be transferred to the
to educate the prisoner population with designated In-Reach facility for
current accurate information related programming and In-reach services as the
Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative (MPRI) prisoners are identified and they meet
and will be the means for addressing criteria requirements for placement. The
questions, receiving feedback and seeking mandatory programming being provided is
input from the prisoner population as it as follows: Beyond Anger 1, Beyond Anger
relates to MPRI-related issues. 2 and Sex Offender Dietetic.
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6. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Elvin Barren
HealthCare for Re-Entry Veterans
Program
Elvin Barren has been meeting with Pugsley
Correctional Facility Incarcerated Veterans
Carri Briseno: MRS prior to release as part of the MPRI In-
Reach Process. He has been instrumental in
A Special Thank You is being sent out to helping our offender’s obtain what is needed
Carri Briseno for her work and dedication in to access VA services upon their return to
assisting our parolees over the years. Carri the community. To learn more about the
has represented Michigan Rehabilitation HealthCare for Re-entry Veterans Program
Services (MRS) as a member of the MPRI Please feel free to Contact Elvin.
Transition Team. She has been coming to
Pugsley Correctional Facility and meeting
with prisoners as part of the MPRI In-Reach
Process. Carri was accepted into Cooley
Law School and was scheduled to begin in
August; however she has been notified of
her deployment to Afghanistan. Carri’s last
th
day will be September 18 . She has been Michigan Works has hired a new
pleasure to work with and will be greatly employment specialist to assist our
missed. Please join me in sharing a special parolees in Emmet/Charlevoix counties.
“Thank You” to Carri for her service to us Please welcome Robin Smith to our MPRI
and our country. Transition Team.
Sincerely,
The MPRI Transition Team
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7. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Pugsley Gardening Project
Last year, Senator Jason Allen and a
Genevieve Hoskey Northeast Community Coordinator
number of community partners were
instrumental in the development of the
Northeast MPRI Full Scale
Pugsley Gardening Project. In our first
With just a year and a half under its belt, the
year of operation, the prisoners grew
NORTHEAST has made leaps and bounds
over 18,000 pounds of fresh food which
in growth. Its Steering Team has grown to
was donated to the Fresh Food
15 members and the Advisory council
Partnership and delivered to local
members to 44. The Northeast has served a
pantries, shelters and community meal
total 383 parolees across 14 counties and is
programs.
holding the recidivism rate at 12%. Pre-
This year the Pugsley Gardening Project
release services have been made possible
has expanded their gardens in hopes of
in Batterer's intervention and family
increasing amount of fresh produce they
reunification sessions with continued
will be able to donate for those in need.
services in the community. The Northeast
The facility harvested in July 2,568
has fully engaged the In-reach process with
pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables
13 different correctional facilities and has
and are on their way to another great
established 7 Community Transition Team
year. Some of the items being grown are
meetings that meet monthly across the vast
as follows: beans, onions, peas, squash,
14 county area. One of the biggest
broccoli, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes
accomplishments is the collaborative effort
and cucumbers.
that has been achieved between MDOC,
Many of the prisoners involved in the
Michigan Works, and all community
gardening project participated and
partners. The collective mindset of reducing
completed a Master Gardner Training
crime with a plan of services and
program this past winter and have
supervision with each offender has really
completed 40 hours of voluntary work to
made Northeast's efforts reality. As the
help make the Garden Project a huge
Northeast Steering team continues this work
success. Pugsley is proud to be able to
we are looking forward to continued success
give back to our community and help
and the development of resources that will
those in need.
continue to serve parolees with their
transition from prison back into the
Written By: Douglas Walter
community. MPRI is a worthwhile initiative
that is making a difference with many that
we serve through MPRI.
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8. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
ParoleCoach.com
ParoleCoach.com is a unique and
Good day, innovative resource center designed to
I recently enjoyed a visit from Cynthia serve and guide parolees in their re-entry
Johnson. Cynthia is a MPRI/IDRP process. ParoleCoach.com provides a wide
Supervisor in the Office of Parole and range of educational materials and
Probation Services, MDOC. This resources, including a comprehensive
department oversees the operation of dynamic resource directory, live interactive
Tuscola Residential ReEntry Program ParoleCoach Webinars, a cross-indexed
(TRRP). TRRP provides programming in a resource library of Instructional Videos and
controlled residential setting for male Guides, and links to pre-screen outside
parolees. A major facet of that program is resources. ParoleCoach.com’s resource
BRIDGES, a domestic violence/batterer center offers a rich, easily accessible, cost
intervention pretreatment program. Cynthia effective means of assisting the parolee in
has invited us to visit TRRP for a tour and his integration back into the community, and
an opportunity to sit in on a BRIDGES his successful completion of parole.
session. This is a wonderful opportunity for ParoleCoach.com’s Website is available
us to connect facility operations with field 24/7 to parolee participants in the program.
operations and our local DV providers in
order to learn more from each other so that ParoleCoach.com is presently serving the
we may prepare parolees for greater Northeast Michigan MPRI Re-Entry Service
success. The visit will be held on Region, with plans to extend services
September 24th at 10:30 a.m. Cynthia will statewide. In the first two months of the
provide us with a tour and information. We contract service period, Parole Coach
will then break for lunch, and return for conducted two one-hour pre-release
observation of a BRIDGES session starting sessions in the MPF Facility for 21 inmates.
at 1:00. Please RSVP to me by August 26th ParoleCoach.com has conducted six
if you plan to attend. Thank you very much successful call in webinars (three per month)
for your time, and I hope you can make it! with most participants attending at least two
sessions. Parole Coach has successfully
Genny Hoskey helped a number of parolees with a range of
Northeast MPRI Community Coordinator re-entry issues including transportation,
housing, resource identification, work efforts,
Sharing Information personal relationship issues and more.
For more information, visit our website at
and Resources www.parolecoach.com
ParoleCoach.com Staff
Kmart is offering discount cards to people Patrick C Lynch and Debra A. Boyer
receiving unemployment. I called Kmart
customer service who stated we could
promote this. Kmart and Super Kmart stores We welcome our
in the state of Michigan will offer a 20%
discount off regularly priced Kmart brand Community Partners take
grocery and drugstore merchandise to advantage of this opportunity to
eligible unemployed customers who register share information about your
for the Program on kmart.com. organizations
We have a direct link to this discount now.
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/dap_10151_101
01_DAP_Unemployment+Program?keyword
Redirect=unemployed
Helps us all
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9. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Diasbility.gov is launched by US "There is no medicine like hope, no
Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor today incentive so great and no tonic so
launched Disability.gov, a redesigned powerful as the expectation of
federal Web site that connects the more
than 50 million Americans with disabilities to something better tomorrow."
thousands of trusted resources on disability- O.S. Marden
related issues, programs and services.
Formerly known as DisabilityInfo.gov, the
site has been completely redesigned and
updated with new social media tools, such
as a blog and a Twitter feed, to encourage
feedback and interaction among visitors.
Disability.gov is not just for Americans with
disabilities, but also for parents of children
with disabilities, employers, workforce and
human resource professionals, veterans,
educators, caregivers and many others. PROFESSIONAL
Disability.gov features comprehensive EXCELLENCE AWARD
information from 22 federal agencies, as
well as educational institutions, non-profit
organizations and state and local
governments. Topics covered on the site
include: benefits; civil rights; community life;
education; emergency preparedness;
employment; health; housing; technology;
and transportation.
We ask that you please let your constituents
know about Disability.gov. You can do this
by sending an e-mail to your networks;
placing a news item about the site on your
Web site, blog or Twitter feed; or by Retired Warden Thomas Phillips
including an article in the next issue of your
newsletter. We would be happy to supply Pugsley Psychologist and Retired
you with any additional communications
Warden are Recognized
materials you may need. Please let us know
if you would like us to send you a press
Warden Thomas Phillips retired this year,
release, fact sheet, talking points, sample
but not before being recognized as one of
Twitter posts or news articles.
the best. Warden Phillips was instrumental
in the incorporation of MPRI initiatives into
IMPORTANT: If you are currently linking to
the department. He chaired several key
www.DisabilityInfo.gov from your Web site,
committees, providing keen insight and
please take a moment to update your link to
representing the best interests of the
www.Disability.gov. If you are not currently
department with impeccable character and
linking to us, we hope that you'll add this to
professionalism. Tom worked with
your Web site.
community agencies to help give back to the
(http://www.disability.gov/home/link_to_us).
community. In 2008, the prison he oversees,
Shared BY: Pamela Lloyd Gorski
Puglsey Correctional Facility, gave over
Compliments of the Alpena County
18,000 pounds of food to community
Human Services Coordinating Council
agencies in need. Warden Phillips was an
asset to the MDOC, the community, and the
people around him. He is missed in
retirement.
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10. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Con’t: For the last 15 years, MDOC Crew #3 led by
Professional Excellence Award Al Strange has been helping the Grand
Traverse Conservation District maintain the
Psychologist Brian Majerczyk has been 3,000+ acres of parklands they manage,
recognized for delivering psychological along with performing restoration and safe
services to prisoners and developing skills river access along the Boardman River.
for staff. He demonstrated his abilities as the This year, after weeks of hauling rock,
team leader, taking on duties at both installing erosion cribbing, and spreading
Pugsley Correctional Facility and Oaks compost, Crew #3 completed restoration of
Correctional Facility. Brian continues to a high bank erosion site along the
excel in his position, even helping Standish Boardman River, within the G.T. County’s
Correctional Facility with psychological Natural Education Reserve. The eroding
services delivery while maintaining a bank is just a few feet off a recreational trail
positive attitude and being a solution finder and poses serious safety issues for trail and
when called upon. Brian is widely respected river users, as well as dumping tons of
by his peers and is considered a valuable sediment into the river and decreasing water
asset by his administrators. quality. Nearly 75 tons of stone were hauled
in for the project! The crew was able to cut
F.Y.I volume 21 July 23, 2009 25 red pine trees from a plantation in a
parkland nearby and use them for the
stabilization. The trees not only stabilized
Pugsley the slope, but the thinning decreased insect
and disease threats within the pine stand.
Scholarship The City of Traverse City donated and
delivered 60 yards of compost to be used to
Golf Scramble get vegetation established quicker, which
will aid in the long-term stabilization of this
bank. The District provides affordable and
environmentally sound land management to
the community. This is made possible by
the hard work and skill of crew #3 and
The Pugsley Golf Scramble was held on leader Al Strange.
Saturday July 18 2009 at the Emerald Vale
Golf Course in Manton. This year’s event
raised 4,000 dollars to be presented to four
graduating seniors from the surrounding
area.
Prisoner Work Crews
Help Our Community
Written by: Robin Christensen
Land Management Specialist GT Conservation
District
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11. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
individuals which help to defray the expense
Keryx Program at of the weekends. Along with this local
Pugsley preparation, there are other persons from
the local communities and from all over the
world who uphold the weekend and
participants through specific prayer. To
participate in a weekend, a volunteer must
have completed a weekend on the outside.
The candidates for a weekend are chosen
Pugsley Correctional Facility has approved through a sponsorship program. Each
and encourages the Keryx Weekend candidate is paired with a prisoner sponsor
Program twice each year on the third who has completed a weekend and who will
weekend in May and September. This year, be an accountability partner after the
2009, we held the spring weekend on May weekend.
14 - 17. The fall weekend will take place on
September 17 - 20. The Keryx program is a Along with candidates, an inside team is
lay-led, non-denominational, Christian- chosen to assist the outside volunteers in
based ministry designed to be conducted in running the weekend. Inside team members
any correctional institution based on the must have 75% attendance of their primary
Cursillo method. A weekend on the outside service and weekly groupings and cannot
would be called Des Colores, Cursillo or have any major ticket convictions in the
Walk to Emmaus. The program was brought months between the bi-annual weekends.
from a Florida correctional facility and
instituted in Michigan originally as Kairos at Written by: Chaplin Dave Bassett
the Kinross Correctional Facility under the
direction of the Warden of that facility and
Chaplain Ray Moore, now retired. Currently GIVE BLOOD, GET
there are 6 men’s facilities and two women’s
facilities which sponsor a Keryx program. COOKIES
Several years ago when the national Kairos
governing board made extensive changes to
the program, the Michigan governing board
voted to continue to follow the original
manual and the name was changed from
Kairos to Keryx in Michigan. The first Keryx
weekend at Pugsley was in May of 2002 and
in May of 2009 we completed our fifteenth
weekend.
A weekend at Pugsley involves 36
candidates (prisoners who are going through
a weekend experience for the first time),
approximately 28 inside team members
(prisoners who have gone through a
personal weekend) and 25 to 35 outside
The Facility held their quarterly Blood Drive
volunteers. The weekend requires much
in July with a total of 30 Units of blood
preparation and training time by the
donated, including one first time donor. We
volunteers. The volunteer team was
encourage our community partners to join us
assembled for the upcoming September
in our efforts by donating blood or
weekend by the end of June and the formal
sponsoring a Blood Drive.
training of team members will begin on
August 1 with an all-day training session
“Together we can make a difference”
followed by four additional evening
meetings. The local Traverse Area Keryx
group accepts donations from churches and
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12. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
Acting Warden named at partners aware of the happenings at
Pugsley Pugsley Correctional Facility.
The amount of involvement this facility
has with the community in a positive
manner is something that all our staff
can and should be proud of. ERT’s
interaction with local law enforcement,
the produce provided by the garden
project to local food pantries, the
projects completed and maintained by
the Public Work Crews, charities
supported and contributed to, Habitat for
Humanity, to name a few. There is no
lack of commitment by the facility to be
the best neighbor and partner we can be.
Acting Warden David Pratt During the current times being
encountered not only by or in our
With the retirement of Warden Thomas
Phillips; Pugsley Correctional Facility Department but the entire State, we have
Deputy Warden David Pratt was named a monumental responsibility to the
Acting Warden. community to be the most productive
facility we can be. Hopefully this
newsletter will be a means of keeping
not only our staff but those that we work
with in the community abreast of the
ever changing role corrections is playing
within the community.
So often we only hear about the
After hearing how some facilities were parolees who fail. The Pugsley
keeping their staff informed about their Connection wants to share success
involvement with MPRI, I spoke with Stories of our parolees. Our
MPRI Coordinator Follen concerning the collaborative efforts together have
concept and the Pugsley Connection was made a difference and every day we
created. We decided that the Pugsley know parolees are succeeding and we
Connection would not merely be a way are accomplishing the MPRI Mission.
of communicating the changes involving We invite all staff and community
the facility in regards to MPRI to our partners to share a parolee success
staff, but would be a way of keeping our story.
staff, FOA staff and our community
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13. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
be represented and ample time will be
reserved for questions.
Priorities:
Balancing Our Priorities: The Prisons and Corrections Section analyzes
issues affecting prisons, jails and community-
Can We Safely Spend Less on based corrections and engages in public
Corrections? education. It is also designed to be a forum
for the cross-professional exchange of ideas,
October 8, 2009
so membership is open to non-attorney
The Inn at St. John’s
criminal justice professionals.
44045 Five Mile Road
Plymouth, MI
The conference program and registration
form can be made available through the
Faced with an ever-deepening fiscal crisis,
MPRI Community Coordinators!
Michigan is searching for ways to reduce the
$1.9 billion budget of the Department of
We hope you will join us!
Corrections. The decision of the Granholm
administration to parole more people who
have served their minimum terms has been
criticized by some as a threat to public safety.
Corrections employees and communities
CALLING ALL
where prisons are located oppose facility VOICES!!!
closings. Legislators are sharply divided
between those who want to reduce the prison
population and those who want to privatize
prison services. Community-based programs
proven to reduce crime are starved for funds.
Last year, the Prisons & Corrections Section
and four other organizations sponsored a
well-received, half-day symposium in Lansing If you would like write an article or share
that addressed these questions. The Section is information, The Pugsley Connection
now presenting an updated and expanded Committee would love to hear from you.
version at a location convenient for those in
Southeast Michigan, the beautiful Inn at St. Please submit to:
John’s. The symposium, which will run from Cynthia Follen
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., is open to any member Pugsley Connection Editor
of the criminal justice community and should
be of interest to defense attorneys,
prosecutors, judges, probation and parole
staff, treatment personnel, community service
providers and members of law enforcement.
The morning portion of the program will
focus on population reduction strategies,
including those currently being employed,
additional alternatives, risk assessment and
rehabilitation, and the prosecutor’s
perspective. The afternoon portion will
address investing in prevention. Speakers
will discuss the Michigan Prisoner Reentry
Initiative, mental health and substance abuse
treatment, community corrections and
creative jail programs, and removing barriers
to reentry. A wide variety of viewpoints will
“One offender at a time”
13

14. The Pugsley Connection
August 2009
a Movie package and parking in the Employee of
the Month designated parking space. Mitzi was
nominated by Denise Bearre. Some of Denise’s
comments about Mitzi included, “She has helped
develop prisoner Guidebooks and MPRI
Pastor Tom Mammoser publications. She is involved in the MPRI
committee. She is a positive role model and has
Pastor Tom Mammoser will fill a vacancy helped staff and prisoners develop skills needed
on the Northeast MPRI Steering Team to obtain employment.”
representing the Faith Based
Community. Please welcome Pastor Other winners for this year include: January,
Mammoser and thank him for Craig Derror, Psychologist; February, Tom
volunteering his time and service. Steele, Public Works Officer; March, Brandi
Crisp, ARUS; April, Deb Ausdemore, ARUS;
MPF Employee Club News May, RUO Maue; June, Jeff Vogue,
One of the projects undertaken by the MPF Maintenance; July, Steve Salladay, RUO
Employee Club this year was to establish a
scholarship fund to benefit students enrolled in
the Public Safety class at the Career Tech Center
in Traverse City. So far, we’ve had a LaSenorita
gift certificate sale fundraiser and a couple of
casual days for non-uniformed staff. For the
2008-2009 school year two $250 scholarships
were awarded. In addition to fundraising efforts
for this project by the Employee Club, a
committee was developed to work with other
The first edition of the Pugsley
public safety agencies in the five-county area to Connection is dedicated to our
generate interest and monies for the scholarship. staff and community partners.
There seems to be an interest from these other
agencies and a network of participants is being Pugsley Connection Committee
developed.
In other fundraising effort……………… Pugsley Connection Editor
The Employee Club has contributed $100 to Cynthia Follen
the Pugsley Golf Scramble (which raises Asst. Editor: Mitzi Lewis
funds for scholarships awarded to a high Asst. Editor: Marlene Ford
school senior of a Pugsley Employee as well
as from students from Kingsley, Manton and Committee Members
Fife Lake. Jeff Reynolds
$100 was contributed to a fundraiser by Denise Bearre
Bonnie Fritz (former employee) to raise money Thomas DeNeve
to send packages to those in the armed services. Deb Ausdemore
$100 was donated to the Honor Guard Doug Walters
Fund, which represents the Department at Cynthia Patrick
special events. Maxwell Nickerson
A request for a donation to the Garden
Project at MPF, which raises produce that is The Pugsley Connection will be issued 3
donated to area food banks, was approved for times a year: August, December & April
$300.
MPF Employee Club
Employee of the Month
The Employee of the Month for August is Mitzi
Lewis, BET instructor. Selection as Employee
of the Month entitles the winner to a Dinner and
14