Hey there and welcome back to Weekly Connections! It's time for your June 16th update on all the buzz in the justice world – your essential news, quick and easy!
- First up, Bibb County, Georgia, is looking for some top-notch architects and engineers for a big expansion at their main jail in Macon – we've got the scoop on what they're planning and when proposals are due! (And yes, we’ll drop that info link for you).
- Over in Richmond, Virginia, they just got the green light for a brand-new downtown courthouse design – hear about this multi-story project that’s set to house some high courts.
- Montana's Department of Corrections is scouting locations for a new women's prison. Find out which areas are being explored and the big bucks earmarked for this effort.
- Big moves in Utah! A cool new partnership is offering housing and construction training for folks re-entering society – a village with a real purpose.
- Ohio is putting lottery funds to good use, investing millions to expand mindfulness programs in state prisons after a successful pilot.
- Iowa's taking a fresh look at probation policy, with a research initiative already showing some promising results in reducing recidivism.
- Big legislative news out of New York, where the State Senate just passed a major reform package for correctional facilities – find out what changes are coming to transparency and oversight.
- And speaking of New York, we'll hear what the State DOCS Commissioner has to say about the situation in an upcoming Correctional News edition.
- Some familiar names are on the move! Ben Moler's joined Falcon, and the Georgia DOC has a new Statewide Mental Health Director in Dr. Catherine Haynes Owen.
- The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is on the hunt for its next Executive Director – a big role to fill! (We'll point you to where you can find those job details).
- Partner News Roundup: Don't miss early bird rates for the Correctional Mental Health Conference in San Francisco, ICPA has released research presentations, and there's still time to register for the National Sheriffs' Association conference!
- And a big congrats to Vermont DOC Commissioner Nick Deml, elected to the Council on Criminal Justice!
- Calling all construction pros! We’ve got open RFPs from Fayetteville, GA (new municipal facility), Butte County, CA (probation building), Cole County, MO (jail surveillance), and Collin County, TX (kitchen relocation). Links and deadlines coming at ya!
- And in company news, Axon wants your input! They've launched a survey on AI in correctional security – and there might be prizes! (Survey link will be in our notes!)
Want to dig into those details or find those links?
- Make sure you're subscribed to Weekly Connections!
- We'll have links for the Bibb County Q&P info, the Texas Exec. Director job description, the NCCHC conference registration, ICPA presentations, and the Axon survey available at www.correctionalnews.com/podcast
