The American Jail Association is committed to the professional growth of our nation's jails. Some of the ways that this goal can be accomplished are by promoting meaningful training programs, exchanging technical information, developing and implementing jail standards, encouraging sound management practices, and adopting practices that improve the efficiency of corrections.

There are dedicated people in every organization who work long and hard to accomplish the goals which ensure that their organization continues to grow professionally. Out of all these dedicated professionals, however, there are some who standout more than others. The Awards Committee of the American Jail Association asks AJA members for their help in identifying these extraordinary individuals to honor them.

The following awards are presented at AJA's Annual Training Conference & Jail Expo:

• Correctional Administrator of the Year
• Correctional Supervisor of the Year
• Correctional Officer of the Year
• Correctional Training Officer of the Year -NEW!
• Civilian Employee of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year

Award Nominations are accepted in the fall of each year (until January) for the next conference. When nominations are being accepted you will be able to click on Award Nominations to obtain a nomination form or you will be able to obtain one from the fall issues of American Jails magazine.

Correctional Administrator of the Year

Two administrators may be selected for this prestigious award. Consideration will be given on the basis of large and small facilities.

Candidates must be individual members of the American Jail Association in good standing for three years prior to their nomination. The candidates must be government employees and have the endorsement of their sheriff or their city/county manager. Officers and Board members of the American Jail Association are not eligible for consideration.

Some of the variables that will enter into the selection process are:

• Ability to successfully cope with contemporary, day-to-day jai problems, such as crowded conditions, personnel shortages, litigation, etc.;
• Promotion of programs that enhance the job of jail personnel;
• Implementation of inmate programs that promote the efficient operation of the jail;
• Promotion of ongoing staff training programs;
• Promotion of a professional image of the facility and the personnel who staff it;
• Practitioner of sound, managerial principles.

Correctional Supervisor of the Year

In most jails, administrators rely heavily on mid-managers and, in fact, these mid-managers serve as links between the administrators and line staff. Our jail supervisors coach, lead, and guide and without them, the job of an administrator would be virtually impossible.

Candidates must be government employees and have the endorsement of their sheriff or administrator. Officers and Board members of the American Jail Association are not eligible for consideration.

Correctional Officer of the Year

This award provides you with the opportunity to recognize those uniformed employees who really hold our places together and make all administrators look good. Select and submit the names of those outstanding men and women you have working for you.

In order to be eligible for this award, the officer must be a government employee who works in the jail. The officer's submission of application must carry the endorsement of the administrator of the system in which the officer is currently employed. The winners will receive conference registration, airfare, and hotel accommodations for the AJA Training Conference.

Correctional Training Officer of the Year- NEW

This award provides jail administrators the opportunity to recognize those sworn employees who continually strive to elevate the level of professionalism in our jails through training. Whether they are coordinating an academy or conducting in-service training, their efforts provide organizations with competent, educated personnel.

In order to be eligible for this award, the officer must be a government employee who works in the jail, and also a certified trainer as defined by the state regulatory agency. The officer's submission of application must carry the endorsement of the sheriff or the administrator of the system in which the officer is currently employed.

Civilian Employee of the Year

Those of you who have managed jails for a number of years recognize that uniformed personnel cannot accomplish all that must be done in running a facility. No institution would be functioning well without that good, nonuniformed employees' support. How about that employee who's not uniformed, but does some of your booking? How about the one who handles the mail room, or the clerk who does yeoman duty getting those reports typed and the paperwork filed? The only basic requirements are that they be nonsworn employees currently working in a government agency.

Volunteer of the Year

There are probably very few jails in the nation that survive without the help of volunteers; those community citizens who are committed to doing something within your jail. The only criterion is that the service provided must be to the government agency from which they are being nominated. This is an opportunity to recognize the unsung hero who takes a great deal of work and a great number of problems away from the line corrections officer on a day-to-day basis. They are working in religious programs; others are working in crisis counseling roles, and are working with commissaries. There are senior citizen volunteers that are doing a great job of handling calls and taking a load off the full-time staff. It's time to recognize these people.

All award recipients will receive a complimentary conference registration, airfare, and hotel accommodations for the AJA Training Conference.