August 25, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

James Jones Named Top Warden by National Group

Huntsville Unit senior warden James L. Jones has been recognized as the Warden of the Year by the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents. Jones will share the honor with warden Al Lazaroff of the Mansfield Correctional Institution in Ohio who was also selected as co-warden honoree.

"This award is a great honor to receive and I am very humbled for NAAWS selecting me," said Warden Jones. "I also know that my success is attributed to the many great people that surround me."

Warden Jones began working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 1984 as a Correctional Officer. He advanced through the security ranks at several units before being promoted in May 2005 to Senior Warden at the Goodman Unit in Jasper. He went on to serve as the Senior Warden at the Hightower Unit in Dayton, the Terrell Unit in Rosharon and finally the Huntsville Unit.

Under Warden Jones' direction, the Huntsville Unit operates as a Regional Release Site where thousands of offenders are released annually back into society after serving their sentences or are paroled or by mandatory supervision.

Warden Jones also is responsible for overseeing the process and procedures involved in carrying out executions which take place at the Huntsville Unit. As a result, he is extensively involved with outside governmental agencies including the State Legislature, the Attorney General's Office and the Governor's Office.

Warden Jones plans to continue his career with TDCJ for the foreseeable future. "I feel that my personal goals with this agency has been fulfilled," he said. "But I still have a desire to mold and train staff into professional correctional employees."

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