Correctional Leaders Association

Welcome to Nebraska! CLA Leaders is thrilled to be in Omaha for our 2025 Midwest Region Meeting. Not only did we receive a warm welcome from our CLA President and Director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Rob Jeffreys, we were pleased receive a hardy welcome from Governor Pillen and Lt. Governor Kelly as well. #leadership #networking #corrections

Thank you to the FCC and Chairman Carr for taking bold steps to stop contraband cellphones in state and local prisons. The new proposal would empower correctional facilities to block illegal devices used to coordinate crime—while protecting legitimate wireless users nearby. Your vote was a big step forward for public safety. 👏 https://lnkd.in/e4t9GhjE

As we mark the end of National Recovery Month, the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) has released a first-of-its-kind toolkit to support effective implementation of opioid use disorder treatments for Medicaid beneficiaries who are leaving incarceration. Check out their toolkit, “Serving People With Opioid Use Disorder During Reentry: A Resource for States,” which aims to serve a growing field of providers who are implementing programs under Medicaid reentry waivers that allow individuals returning to their communities to receive health services. https://lnkd.in/eTneAVmt

We are happy to announce that Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction is the new chair of CLA's Recruitment and Retention Committee! We are excited to collaborate with Secretary Dismukes in this capacity, and we are grateful for her leadership in this new role! 

Attendees at the 2025 Northeast Region Meeting had the opportunity to preview "On Beyond Fences," a documentary short on the transformation of the old Maine State Prison to today's Maine Model of Corrections, featuring Commissioner Randall Liberty.

Policy changes that offer youth and young adults Medicaid and CHIP-covered services during reentry offer an important opportunity to support the health and safety of youth and communities. Check out a new paper by the Health and Reentry Project (HARP) which delves into the impact these health policies can have on youth, and examines the work underway in New Mexico, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, with a focus on juvenile justice system implementation. https://lnkd.in/eqW8JXN4

More than a Monthly Meeting highlighted the collaborative strategies undertaken by the Corrections Education and Vocational Planning Group (CEVPG) to expand technology and postsecondary education access for incarcerated individuals in New Hampshire. Featuring insights from the New England Board of Higher Education, Unlocked Labs, and the leader of the CEVPG, this session covered various barriers the group has faced and spotlighted some prerequisites for success in such cross-agency work. New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC) Unlocked Labs

VSUs provide specialty housing for approximately 600 of the Department’s 2,300 incarcerated veterans, improving life skills and addressing common issues among veterans. VSUs collaborate with veterans organizations such as the federal Department of Veteran’s Affairs, state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, American Legion, and other bodies to host workshops, assist with service-connected disability claims, and discharge upgrades, aimed at enhancing both the carceral and reentry experiences. Thank you, Secretary Laurel Harry and David Radziewicz, for sharing your insight and serving those who have served!

Sally Flores from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision led an important discussion on drug interdiction. Drugs and contraband are a problem that correctional facilities face every day. Finding new and innovative ways to prevent this is ongoing and ever-changing. Coming together to share experiences and collaborate on solutions is what these meetings are all about.

Creating Hope, Opportunity, Inspiring Change & Excellence. The CHOICES high-risk mentoring program was born in the heart of New Hampshire's Queen City. With the implementation of the juvenile probation transformation, MPAL's Juvenile Court Diversion Program's numbers doubled. A need arose, and a team of credible messengers rose to the challenge! Thank you to Evenor Pineda and Bill Duffy for leading this great session.