EDITOR'S CORNER

We wrap up this month's focus by profiling a true pioneer in the corrections field. Andrea Cabral is not only the first female sheriff in the history of Massachusetts, but she was also the first black sheriff in Suffolk County. Her tireless pursuit to advance her career and her list of successes should serve as an inspiration to all corrections professionals.
Jim, Corrections.com editor

FEATURED STORY

Trailblazer - One sheriff's journey to the top

By Ann Coppola

A relentless pursuit

In the fifth grade, Andrea Cabral took a career aptitude test that determined she possessed the skills to be either a lawyer or an actor. When her mother showed her the proudly preserved document just a few years ago, Cabral had to laugh at just how accurate the assessment turned out to be.

“I spent 16 years as a prosecutor," she says, "and what you have to do in front of a jury is very similar to acting. I love the art of convincing a jury, the task to convince twelve people who know nothing about a situation that a wrong has occurred.”

Cabral prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases for two county district attorney’s offices and the state’s Attorney General. In 1998, she was tasked with managing eight district courts and the Boston Municipal Court. If Cabral had taken a career aptitude test at that point, it would have indicated she had all the right ingredients for her next daunting career move. Read this week's full story.

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READER FEEDBACK

Regarding last week's comment about facility audits.

I have said for years that inspection teams should just show up unannounced. I have been in corrections 13 years, and to this day I have always known when a inspection is going to take place.

The problem lies within the higher echelon. They are all buddies so the big man calls and says "hey we are coming down next week."

Well everything stops security wise because all the higher ups are worried about is making sure the walls are painted and the floors are waxed. Corrections has become a very bad scene in the last five years and it is going to get worse unless we start taking back these institutions. Start staffing these places and give the officers something to defend themselves with.

We have the tools to fight with but again higher ups are afraid to use them. I think what that boils down to is they are unfamiliar with what we have and when you can use it. We are just now getting stab resistance vests. The only sad thing is, it took the life of an officer to get these approved.
B.W

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LOOKING AHEAD

NOW ON CORRECTIONS.COM

Honoring community corrections professionals

State and corrections leaders joined community corrections officers and their families July 15 to 21, to celebrate “Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week.” Full story

The mob mentality

One doesn't have to look far to find the destructive side of the mob mentality. Full story

The best laid plans

When Jane Browning began her career as a developmental disabilities advocate in Denver, Colorado, she couldn’t have imagined she would one day be a part of criminal justice legislative history. Full story

BUSINESS NEWS

Partnership facilitates implementation of victim notification system

he Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE ) is a free service that allows crime victims and other concerned citizens to call a toll-free number... More

Arizona county employee wins award for implementing new technology

Carol File, the Detention Services Records Manager with Yavapai County, recently was awarded the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office 2007 Civilian Employee of the Year Award for the outstanding job she has done by implementing an innovative new Offender Management System from Digital Solutions Inc. and Offender Communication System from Inmate Telephone Inc. More

NCIC Inmate Telephone Services announces international collect calling

NCIC Inmate Telephone Services is pleased to announce its introduction of International Collect Calling for inmate telephone providers. More

CAREER WATCH

Ind. juvenile facility sees new superintendent Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue promoted Frances Osburn on July 10, 2008, to the superintendent position for the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. Full story.

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EVENTS

Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates

Date: 8/24 - 28/08
If you’re new to the correctional food service industry, or a seasoned pro, you’re sure to come away with new tools and a greater understanding of your current working environment. More information.

Managing Emotions Under Pressure

Date: 9/10/08
This one day training session will help you: adapt to workplace changes, respond with a level head - even if you are ready to "blow a fuse," break on the job habits that hurt you, like procrastination and disorganization, and more. More information.

Gangs: Customs, Practices, Sociology & Identifiers

Date: 9/12/08
Course Content: How violence has become a gang tool, safety issues when dealing with gang members, understanding gang behaviors, gang and drug connections, and more. More information

Check out more events.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news."
- by A. J. Liebling, American journalist (1904 - 1963)


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