Charles “Bill” Johnson Correctional Center (BJCC) located in Alva currently houses 448 trainees with 335 of them on the program side. The facility has 47 officers and 83 support staff members, said Warden Becky Guffy Tuesday. She was speaking to members of the BJCC Citizen Advisory Board who met for lunch and an update.
BJCC just hired a new construction and maintenance administrator, Jeff Detgen, who started work on Monday. “We’re happy to have him on board,” Guffy said.
She said BJCC gave up the warden’s assistant position so they could add a second re-entry officer. “We just felt like that would better serve the facility and better serve the inmates,” she said.
BJCC just finished their annual operations audit conducted by the state Department of Corrections. There are 1,034 standards to be met, and BJCC met all but five. Two of those can’t be fixed as they are based on the physical design of the facility. The other three were minor and were fixed onsite. “I’m very, very proud of staff. We worked really hard. Overall, the staff is doing a fantastic job,” said Guffy.
Regarding work crews in the community, she said it is easier to send out smaller dedicated crews for particular events like the upcoming BBQ or the car show instead of crews that go out every day. She said, “It is our goal to be a help to the community. In turn, you guys help us teach our inmates and trainees how to be good productive humans, too.”
Guffy remarked that the advisory board has lost a lot of members in recent years. She invited those present to offer suggestions of people to serve on the board. She said they have another advisory board from Northwestern Oklahoma State University made up of the sociology chair, the psychology chair and the criminology department. She has invited them out to see what BJCC does and “be a part of this as well.”
At the last advisory board meeting, members learned about a new program being started at BJCC called the RDAP (residential drug abuse program) for those with drug and alcohol abuse problems. It has been used in federal prisons. “The curriculum is fantastic,” said Guffy. “It’s nine books. It’s something that the inmates fill out and take with them.” She said Jeff Mapes “is deep in that process” at BJCC. “It’s a wonderful program. I’m hearing it from inmates and staff alike,” she said.
Mapes said the program is geared toward helping the inmates understand what kinds of challenges they’re going to face on re-entry into the community. Inmates say they enjoy the program, and the counselors all like it. “It’s really going smoothly so far. We’ve had minor hiccups,” he said.
Guffy said the pilot group they put together to introduce the curriculum were “pretty hard-core dudes” including one of their gang shot-callers. “We picked a tough crowd … to test it out. Interestingly enough, two of those have called back in – one of them did not do well to begin with here – have actually called back in and thanked us,” she said.
BJCC has pulled some figures in preparation for a presentation to the pardon and parole board. She said in the 18-24 age group “it is right at 88 percent” staying out of prison for those who successfully completed the program at BJCC. Guffy said they divided the inmates into three groups: those who completed the program, those who didn’t finish generally because they were transferred out, and those who refused to participate in the program. Of those who refused, “I can tell you that after five years 98 percent of them will recidivate, which is kind of an interesting number,” she said. Nationally, the success rate for inmates aged 18-24 is 15 percent, she added. “Nationally its 15 percent, we’re at 88 so I think we’re doing pretty well.”
Since Jan. 1, 19 trainees have received their HiSET (high school equivalency diploma) certificates, 14 have completed their pre-HiSET and 18 have completed literacy. Numbers are down a little because there has been a switch to a new system and there was a delay in receiving materials. During that delay (the whole month of January), no one was tested. Since January 178 new arrivals were tested and 169 subtests were administered with a passing rate of 90.5 percent. It takes five subtests to complete a whole set.
On April 18 at 10 a.m. BJCC will hold a graduation ceremony. Guffy said they anticipate about 18 to graduate, but if they get their numbers back there might be about five more. She said a lot of inmates leave the facility before they have the opportunity to participate in a ceremony.
BJCC has changed to a VoIP phone system, but the main number has not changed. It will go to an automated system and give voice prompts for the different departments. It now has voice mail capabilities.
Chaplain John Clapp was not able to be at the meeting, but Guffy talked about his “incredible resources” with prison ministries. He has requested the advisory board’s help in painting the inside of the chapel at BJCC, both the walls and ceiling. The board was presented with quotes from Wal-Mart and Starr Lumber for the paint. Guffy said if chapel funds can be used, she can keep the cost low. If it has to go through the state, it becomes more complicated and more expensive. She asked if the board would be willing to pay part or all of the cost.
Brenda Rose reported the last figure she had from treasurer Freelin Roberts over a year ago was about $7,200 in the local bank account. The board also has an account with Communities Foundation of Oklahoma. After some discussion, Rose recommended they pay for paint from Starr Lumber “because that’s local.” Todd Holder said, “I think the paints a little better quality too.” The board voted to pay for the paint, quoted for a total of $2,484.30 from Starr Lumber. Guffy said she would provide all the rollers, etc.
When board members asked some questions about re-entry officers, Guffy introduced Kristi Doll who does reintegration and aftercare. “Spitfire Kristi,” she called her. “She makes sure our inmates leave here in a good way. She makes sure they have a place to live. They call her back if they get in a wreck. We want them to.”
Doll said one inmate who left the facility a year ago called saying, “I remember one thing you said in class, that we can always call.” He called to ask a question.
“We develop those relationships here. It’s a big part of who we are and as successful as we are,” said Guffy.
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