August 21, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Livingston Awarded 2015 Edward R. Cass
Correctional Achievement Award

The American Correctional Association has awarded Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the 2015 Edward R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award. The award was created in 1962 in honor of Edward R. Cass, who devoted more than 50 years of his life to corrections, and recognizes individuals for their innovative leadership, professional integrity and contributions to the field of criminal justice.

Livingston, along with Dr. Elizabeth Gondles, was presented with the award earlier this month at the 145th Congress of Correction in Indianapolis. Previous E. R. Cass Award winners include former TDCJ Executive Directors George Beto and James Estelle.

"Brad Livingston's leadership with TDCJ has led to Texas becoming fully accredited. The improvements he has implemented at TDCJ have benefited the staff, the offenders and the citizens of Texas. He is a leader in American Corrections," said James Gondles, Executive Director of the American Correctional Association.

Livingston was named Executive Director in 2004 and prior to that was TDCJ's chief financial officer. He has also served in positions with the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning and the Legislative Budget Board.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has more than 38,000 employees and a total operating budget of more than $3 billion. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of nearly 150,000 offenders, as well as the supervision of more than 87,000 individuals released from prison on parole or mandatory supervision.

In August 2014, TDCJ was presented the Golden Eagle Award from ACA which is given to agencies that have achieved accreditation of all aspects of agency operations to include accreditation of every facility under its jurisdiction.

The American Correctional Association is a professional organization for individuals and groups, both public and private that share a common goal of improving the justice system. It was founded in 1870 and is the oldest association developed specifically for practitioners in the correctional profession.

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