On August 31, I’ll be closing a significant chapter in my life as I retire after 40 years of service with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including nine years as your Executive Director. As I reflect on my long and fulfilling career with this agency, it’s abundantly clear that I spent my time in the very best of company.
We often refer to ourselves as family at TDCJ, and it has truly been my honor and privilege to work alongside each of you. You are the unsung heroes of our communities, tirelessly dedicated to serving our great state. This work is tough and demands a lot from everyone, but what truly sets TDCJ apart is the way we care for one another. Whether you’ve been with us for two decades or 20 days, you are part of an exemplary group of men and women.
We are a family because we stand by each other through the toughest times, support one another’s growth, and take immense pride in the vital work we do for the people of Texas. Every role, every contribution, no matter how big or small, is essential to our collective success.
You’ll see this spirit of family reflected in this edition of Connections Magazine. The stories within these pages highlight what makes this agency so special – real stories of real people that remind us daily that TDCJ is not just a workplace, but a true community for many of us.
As I prepare for this next phase of my life, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your passion, contributions, and diligence in improving and advancing this agency. Serving as your Executive Director has been one of the greatest honors of my life. While there have certainly been challenges, I am incredibly proud of the significant strides we’ve made together, such as investing in rehabilitation, enhancing security, and implementing new technologies. I’ve personally witnessed the positive influence of our collective efforts on those incarcerated, their families, and our communities.
I eagerly anticipate connecting with many of you before my departure later this summer. I am excited to witness the continued success of this agency as you all continue to fulfill our mission and propel TDCJ forward. Thank you for an extraordinary career.
Bryan Collier
Executive Director
“We thought we lost her,” Rudy Hernandez said, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “I really had no hope. I thought I had lost my daughter.”
As a father, Rudy struggled with feelings of helplessness. “The hardest part for me was, as the leader of my family and the provider, I kept thinking, ‘How can I help my daughter while still supporting my family?”
Rudy’s daughter, Emory Hernandez, was serving time at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville – her third incarceration at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This time, she was facing a 13-year sentence.
Sitting between her parents, Emory opened up, her voice filled with the weight of her past.
“I felt like it was over. I disconnected from my family. I wasn’t parenting, wasn’t taking responsibility. I made poor choices that led me to TDCJ, and I felt lost. I thought, ‘Man, I’m going to drown in here.’”
But something changed for Emory, a shift she can still clearly recall. “I remember realizing that it was bigger than me. It wasn’t just my victim who suffered. There were so many others – my family, my children, the community.”
Emory reflected on the pivotal moment that changed everything. “One day, they called me to the warden’s office. I’ll never forget it. They just looked at me and asked, ‘Are you tired of coming to prison?’”
She responded without hesitation, “Yes. I am.”
The next words she heard would alter her path forever: “Let us help you.”
Emory was invited to join the STRIVE program at the O’Daniel Unit. STRIVE stands for Strength Through Restoration, Independence, Vision and Empowerment, and focuses on providing reentry support services to incarcerated women, which includes career skills development, employment and community support referrals.
The program also emphasizes soft skills that help women navigate interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.
“We had classes on parenting, anger management, job interviews, resume writing,” Emory said. “They were teaching us skills we needed to get ahead – skills that would help us change.”
Emory decided to dig in and learn everything she could from the opportunity she was given. “I made the decision to take whatever they gave me and learn from it – not for my parents, not for my children, not for a spouse – but for myself. I just started absorbing everything they gave me.”
Through her classes she started seeing a change in herself. “My needs and my wants started changing. I didn’t want anything from anybody. Inside something took place. That selfishness, fear and anger. That lack of consideration that I had for others now was gone.”
That moment marked a shift that Emory hadn’t felt before. “I was given an opportunity I’d never had before, like an anchor that just secured me. It helped me find stability.”
The change was soon noticeable to her family, too. “We started seeing a transformation in her this time,” Rudy recalled. “Through phone calls and visits, her attitude was changing. Instead of focusing on what she needed, she was excited to share what she had accomplished, what she was working toward.”
Rudy continued, “She would tell us about her goals, the things she was learning and how she was applying them.”
Emory’s transformation didn’t stay isolated to prison walls – it began to ripple through her family.
“The STRIVE program didn’t just change Emory, it affected us all. She would share what she was learning, and we started thinking, ‘Well, maybe we can apply some of these things at home too.’ It sparked a change in all of us.”
Rudy explained, “It felt like we were getting our daughter back. It wasn’t the same as before. She wasn’t asking for money for commissary; she was talking about turning a new leaf. She had hope, and that gave us hope, too.”
Looking back, Emory’s family acknowledged the deep impact STRIVE had on their lives. “It saved our family,” Rudy said. “It kept us together. We saw a future for her again. We saw her strength, and we found ours.”
Now, Emory gets to share her knowledge and story with others similar to her as the Reentry Supervisor at TDCJ’s Bartlett Innovation Unit.
Rudy explained, “Emory’s employed today, she’s self-supporting today. Emory takes care of her children. And if you look at where it all started, it was when the STRIVE program was offered to her. That was the beginning of it all.”
Emory found redemption and gave her family the chance to heal, all while showing that even in the darkest moments, transformation and hope are possible.
For some, serving the state of Texas is a family affair.
Angela Knighten, a 22-year employee of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), who spent 20 years in corrections and the last two in the Rehabilitation and Reentry Division as a Case Manager IV at Travis State Jail in Austin, was surprised to learn her daughter, Kenshavia Knighten, who was 20 at the time, applied to work at the unit.
“I found out through the warden,” Angela recalled. “He said, ‘Your daughter’s coming in for an interview,’ and I was like, ‘where!?’”
At first, she thought it was for a correctional officer position, but that wasn’t the case.
“She wanted to do something just for a little bit while she was attending her nursing program, so she went to the mailroom, and she’s been there ever since,” Angela said.
That “little bit” turned into an Administrative Assistant II position for the last five and a half years for Kenshavia as she loved it so much and enjoys working at the same unit as her mom.
“It makes it easier, and it makes it better because I know I have someone here for me all the time,” Kenshavia said.
Seeing family never gets old for Angela.
“I enjoy seeing my daughter every day because we have that relationship to where we do talk every day at work. I just enjoy seeing her flourish. It’s exciting to me.”
Further north in Region VI, it’s not just the family in grey that’s working at Woodman State Jail.
At 42 years old, Agnes Lefua was feeling lost in her various customer service jobs, and she wanted something more. After expressing this to her brother-in-law, Tapuni Uli, a CO IV, she was soon led in a new direction where a stable income and hours were a possibility. Tapuni encouraged Agnes and even his son, Pale Uli, CO II, to join him at TDCJ. He and his son both started their roles within the agency last year.
“They graduated before me, but they were the ones that motivated me to come join,” Agnes said.
For Tapuni, who has a degree in criminal justice and served five years in the Army and 10 in the Coast Guard, it was a no-brainer to join TDCJ after talking to a recruiter.
“It definitely helped me with the order and ranking structure,” Tapuni said.
Fresh out of high school, Pale was looking for direction in his life and his dad had a good idea of where Pale could find what he was looking for.
“I was asking if he had any plans or sports, he wanted to do. He didn’t really have a plan, so I said this is an opportunity that you can do this with me if you want,” Tapuni said.
They both went to the Region VI academy and flew through the training with Pale excelling.
“I joined TDCJ, because I needed to find structure and it really helped me grow and mature,” Pale said.
His proud father saw potential right away.
“He has a good head on his shoulders. When I was in the academy, I was the captain of the class and then the sergeant asked if I wanted to give it to Pale, because I see a lot of potential in him. I said, ‘yes’ and he became the captain, and he thrived and did a really good job,” Tapuni said.
Now, the third member of the soon-to-be trio, Agnes, had her motivation from both her own family and her family in gray.
“They always text me, ‘have a great day’ and ‘love and miss you.’ Just that motivation keeps me going,” she said.
“It was a six-week program and my sergeant and my class, the major there, everybody helped each other. Everybody was motivated and dedicated to bringing out our best, which they did with me.”
Now the three are reunited at Woodman and Agnes knows she’s in a good place.
“I get my actual family, and then I get my Woodman family who have supported me and helped me along this journey.”
For the Knightens, Ulis, Lefua and many other family members working alongside each other, TDCJ is a career that spans generations of families.
TDCJ is comprised of over 36,000 dedicated correctional professionals who strive each day to uphold the mission of the agency. From our correctional officers to the support staff that keeps our facilities up and running, TDCJ is filled with individuals who take the initiative to lead their teams and the agency toward success.
To accomplish this, the agency developed two programs that bring senior staff and mid-level managers from across the agency together to create new relationships and foster current ones - Focused Leadership Conference (FLC) and the Emerging Leaders Course (ELC).
“To meet the mission of TDCJ, it requires every piece of TDCJ to work toward that goal. No one division has more importance than the other. Sometimes it is easy to get siloed into our divisions and departments. We are a very large agency, so you must break that down and have an appreciation and respect for what your peers do,” Executive Director Bryan Collier said. “That’s part of the process for both of those programs. It helps you learn what all those other individuals and divisions do and why their work is just as important as your work. It takes every piece, whether it’s a big division or a small division. If we don’t all work together, we don’t get where we need to go as an agency.”
The FLC was developed by former executive director Brad Livingston and Collier, who was serving as deputy executive director at the time, with the first cohort taking place in Marble Falls in 2009. The program uses various methods to help team build, including exercises that have participating staff lean on each other for guidance and knowledge.
“We do put a lot of pressure on them while they’re in the program, but we also give plenty of support. It’s a high-pressure environment designed to really test them and help grow their leadership capability,” Collier said. “They lean on each other to help get through the program and develop a strong bond and that bond doesn’t go away. That bond continues.”
Another component of the program is developing a personal leadership plan. Susie Gunnels, deputy ombudsman director, said developing the plan allowed her to self-reflect on her leadership path and opened her eyes to how she can continue to grow in her leadership journey.
“During the FLC I was told, ‘create a leadership plan; it will keep you accountable.’ Since then, I realized the value of the plan and setting goals to work on. I started with a self-assessment and identified my biggest regret was leaving Sam Houston State University as a 21-year-old junior. I quickly began taking the steps necessary to re-enroll and now I’ve graduated,” Gunnels said. “Focused Leadership taught me the value of prioritizing my leadership plan, as well as the growth and development of others.”
Chief of Staff Rachelle White participated in the program in 2022 and said her biggest takeaway was hearing directly from senior leadership on their personal leadership journeys, lessons they’ve learned and the vision for the future of the agency. It’s an experience she said truly impacted her as she progressed in her career.
“The experience reinforced that leadership is not just about position. It’s about presence, purpose and people. FLC was pivotal in shaping how I see myself within the agency. It helped me understand that my voice and perspective matter,” White said. “It also created opportunities to build meaningful relationships with peers across divisions and roles, and those connections continue to enrich my work today. In my current role, I strive to promote a practice style that is collaborative, adaptable to change and focused on serving the State of Texas with excellence.”
Employees in mid-level supervisory positions, not only lead their teams toward accomplishing their department goals but also assist their supervisors in fulfilling their goals, as well. For individuals in those roles, the ELC is where they can learn new leadership skills while enhancing their current skill set.
“I think historically we haven’t gotten our people into leader development experiences early enough. A lot of times when you do that, people create bad habits and are kind of set in their ways. It can be hard to break those. I think it’s important to start talking about good leadership earlier than we have been, and Mr. Collier recognized that there was a need for this development for mid-level managers,” Training and Leader Development Division (TLDD) Deputy Director Charlene Ellis said. “That mid-level group is one of the hardest levels of leadership to hold especially in an organization this large. In mid-level management, you are sandwiched between the front-line staff and having a good idea for the work they do, while you are also the go-to for higher-level leadership for solving problems in the daily operations. I think giving them something like this and investing in them early goes a long way.”
ELC was created by Ellis and TLDD Director David Yebra at the request of Collier in 2019. After many planning sessions, the new ELC was presented to Collier, and in 2021 the first cohort was selected.
Over the last four years, ELC has been a leading program within the agency for mid-level managers. Individuals chosen for the course are selected by their respective division directors to participate in the six-month program, which consists of virtual and in-person sessions, as well as one-on-one mentoring.
As part of the program, participants are paired with a division or department director who serves as their mentor during and after the course. In each session, individuals participate in activities and discussions that allow them to network and gain meaningful perspectives from their peers and agency leaders.
Facilities Division Director Ron Hudson, who serves as a mentor in the program, stated programs such as ELC are vital to up-and-coming leaders because it helps them see not only their strengths but weaknesses. It’s a quality that he said is important for new leaders to develop.
“I think it’s very important for those to identify what their weaknesses are early on in their leadership growth. When you get into a director’s role or a manager’s role, it is important to be able to identify others’ strengths and weaknesses, so when you begin developing your leadership team you surround yourself with those that can help your team excel,” Hudson said.
Ellis explained how the course is continuously evolving from cohort to cohort to fit the needs of each individual and class. This allows the lessons and discussions to be tailored to the areas the particular class wants to grow.
“We usually see there are different types of people in the class. There are some from day one that are on the edge of their seat, and we see complete engagement, and others who are quiet the first couple of sessions,” Ellis said. “People take in information in different ways, and we believe that we’re putting out information that everybody in this agency can benefit from. We’re doing good things and are making a difference.”
A 2024 cohort graduate and Parole Division Section Director Brian Phillips said the course allowed him to take the leadership skills he gained in the military and continue to build on them through hearing from agency leaders and interacting with his classmates.
“The perspectives of not only senior leaders but also those of my classmates opened my eyes to an entirely new vista regarding leadership. I saw the similarities of the challenges I had been privy to in my previous career, but more importantly, Ms. Ellis, her staff, and my peers helped me see the differences,” Phillips said. “I came to realize, leadership is not finite, but fluid in nature, albeit grounded in a common foundation. This piqued my interest, and I became excited about the prospect of learning again.”
“The fresh leadership perspective and the innovative tools I acquired in Emerging Leaders have enabled me to become a stronger Section Director,” he continued. “More importantly, I am now able to pass those amazing principles on to my staff, which sets the stage for improved productivity, efficiency and the essential ability to meet loftier goals. I’ve also seen a marked improvement in morale and retention – which is an amazing thing! Although these accomplishments are a collaborative effort between myself and my staff (with all credit going to them), I truly believe the catalyst to this pathway was Emerging Leaders.”
Another 2024 cohort graduate and Office of the General Counsel Program Supervisor Melissa Wiggins said the course taught her to be more open-minded and empathetic towards her team members and to be as hands-on as possible. She contributes her overall growth as a leader to her fellow ELC classmates and her mentor, Chief Operations Officer Bobby Lumpkin.
“The lessons I learned in this course were amazing and very informative but my classmates, my mentor and the speakers I met during this course were the best takeaway. I know that I can reach out to many of my classmates and get good advice or guidance in almost any situation. I also know that I can reach out to my mentor, Bobby Lumpkin, and he can provide me with much-needed information and direction as I grow in TDCJ,” Wiggins said. “It has opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be more aware and more involved in what everybody is doing, or if someone is struggling, trying to find the best solution to help them. I feel like this course has helped me open up to my team and hopefully let them know that they can always come to me whenever there is something they need or a problem they may be having.”
The true impact of the ELC is participating individuals gain a better understanding of what it means to be a leader through constantly learning from the course and also their fellow participating staff members. At the end of the course, participants not only walk away with the knowledge to better lead their teams, but with a whole new understanding of togetherness and support within the agency.
“People can feel when it’s personal to them. I have been through several leader development classes but most of it was someone talking at me. Adults learn by doing and I think with leadership, a lot of people don’t understand how to practice doing it. By just practicing how to be a leader, I think that makes more of a difference than anything,” Ellis said. “I think allowing them to practice techniques and having the facilitated discussions make a big difference. Everyone can talk through issues with their peers and gain different perspectives. You are also walking away understanding you’re not alone and that we’re all in this together.”
When it comes to the future of the agency, Collier emphasized the need to develop more programs such as the Focused Leadership Conference and Emerging Leaders Course. As TDCJ staff collectively work toward accomplishing the 2030 Vision, he said it’s imperative that staff at all levels are able to build their leadership skills.
“We need to continue to expand leadership opportunities, our goals have to include that we’re going to build the best leaders we possibly can in state government, and I truly believe TDCJ has the strongest leadership of any agency in the state of Texas. I feel confident that our people can lead through things that most people can’t imagine having to lead through, but at the same time, building on those skills and on the experience of our team is what I think we have to be focused on. I think what we have is good, but not adequate for 2030. We must continue to expand and broaden those leadership opportunities for the agency and those people that are up and coming in the agency at all levels,” Collier said. “Our focus will continue to be expanding those programs between now and 2030 and beyond.”
At TDCJ, the growth and development of staff plays a crucial role in building confidence, self-awareness, mental health and community. Having someone that can guide you to reach your full potential in every aspect of your life, whether it be personal or work related, could be the start of a newfound purpose within your career.
The agency recently made significant progress toward this vision with the creation of the Office of Organizational Development within the Human Resources Division with Oscar Mendoza serving at the helm as the director.
The Office of Organizational Development is in its early stages of innovation after being created in late 2024. Currently, there is a small team of individuals who are working to support and expand the office’s initiatives, further solidifying its place as an essential part of creating an environment of human growth within the agency.
“It is four staff members and me. We might be small in number, but we’re not small in vision. I have the right people to get started going in the right direction,” Mendoza said.
The Office of Organizational Development has three key pillars that serve as its blueprint for being people-first and people-centered.
The main purpose of the Office of Organizational Development is to focus primarily on the person and not just as an employee.
“We really embrace the philosophy of our director, Mary Babcock, in being people-first and people-centered and how that role can have the capability to change the culture of the agency in a positive way,” Mendoza said.
The coaching and mentoring pillar was built to guide employees regardless of the role a person has within the agency. From the office level to the unit level, anyone can be a part of the program.
Tiffany Kent is the Program Supervisor of the department and has made a career within TDCJ.
“There’s so many things you can make a career out of, working in warehouses, business and finance, you can make a difference wherever you are,” Kent said.
After working for the agency for more than 17 years, Kent has developed professional and personal growth through her various roles. Her hope is to help the department and meet staff within the agency wherever they are in their career.
Samantha Piedra, a sergeant in the Recruitment Department is currently a mentee in the mentoring program and was excited to share the benefits of this opportunity.
Finding out so much about herself over the course of the program, Piedra has found a new sense of trust and transparency. Though these things allowed her to improve both personally and professionally, they came with some difficulties.
“I think a lot of people struggle with looking at themselves in the mirror and facing the reality of who they are and that can be hard. What was challenging for me was facing myself and the things that I struggle with, then learning and growing from them,” Piedra said. “I have learned to open up and just be vulnerable and I have been able to understand that this is a judgment-free space with my mentor, which comes with building that relationship.”
“I really look forward to my coaching and mentorship sessions that I have every month,” Piedra said. “It really has improved me as a person, as an employee and my mental health.”
For Kent, she is hoping to continue to bring mental health to the forefront of staff throughout the state.
“We don’t talk enough about mental health. When we talk about you as an employee, we want you to be okay,” Kent said. “So, we started our wellness walks at the Goree Unit to see what people want and what people need. We want our employees to be okay. We must get back to being selfless and understanding that we have got to take care of each other.”
The goal of this organization goes beyond the surface level of conversation. Employees like Piedra are getting guidance from experienced mentors, receiving personal support and a new perspective on their career.
Making changes within and forming relationships with a mentor or trusted staff member can help employees to be more vulnerable and open when it comes to self-improvement or issues they may run into.
The mentorship program has helped Piedra develop a new sense of belonging and identity.
“Overall, I feel like it’s just made me a better human. It’s kind of like a ripple effect. You have your mentor that’s pouring into you and pouring into everybody else. I didn’t realize I was doing that at first, but when I was learning my skills and different behaviors with my mentor, I then subconsciously caught myself doing that with my officers.”
Her experience has inspired her to want to become a mentor in the future.
“I feel like that really would be so great. I know the impact that the program has on people and if I could be a part of that and have that same impact on someone, I would want nothing more,” Piedra said. “I know it takes a lot of work, but the TDCJ employees are so worth it.”
The mentorship program is a powerful tool for individualized growth and development.
“I really believe in the program because it is so deep and real. It does work. You must be willing to put it in the work,” Piedra said.
The implementation of these initiatives within the agency will not only support employees’ mental wellbeing and professional growth but will also foster a sense of community that carries them throughout their careers.
People are often in search of motivation when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle. We sometimes set goals that are unattainable or make a New Year’s resolution of going to the gym and eating a healthy diet, only to feel negative about ourselves when those goals or resolutions are not achieved. But sometimes motivation can be found from hearing two words from a doctor, “you’re pregnant.”
When Denise Mejorado, a specialist in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s (TDCJ) Human Resources Department heard those words, she knew she would need to make some healthy choices.
“When I thought about making changes to improve my health, my first thought was I need to cut back on caffeine because I drink coffee every day. Also, I knew I had to pay more attention to what I can and can’t eat.”
Mejorado was also reminded of the health initiatives offered by TDCJ.
“We occasionally receive emails about different health apps that are available. Now I pay more attention to those offers,” Mejorado said.
At TDCJ, the agency is a family, and we take care of each other. This is why such an emphasis is placed on the health of its employees. TDCJ employees have access to many health monitoring options from blood pressure monitors to weight loss assistance. How do these apps, devices and diet plans get chosen to support us through our time at the agency and through retirement?
Tara Morales, a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee, manages a team responsible for the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Health Select Plans.
“I definitely have a special place in my heart for TDCJ,” Morales admits. “Because once a week I get to meet with the TDCJ team, and we talk about ideas that we have that really tailor what we do across the state specific to TDCJ.”
Any device or program involving one’s health must be tested.
“We’ve got a team of doctors and clinicians that are really vetting those solutions. When we as a company are approached about a solution, we spend a lot of time looking at it, assessing the members’ experience with that particular program. It goes through clinical validation before we ever put it in front of our membership.”
Morales explained the region and type of state agency affects the products chosen as well.
“It’s oftentimes not just a box product that we add to a benefits package. We do a lot of work to confirm the language that is used in the application, the way that someone enrolls, and we really adjust it so that it fits for the state of Texas. We also are considering who the state of Texas employees are and what their daily life looks like.”
One major advancement in health monitoring for TDCJ employees was the introduction of virtual checkups and at home blood test kits provided by Catapult Health. With Catapult, employees can request a free kit sent to their homes. When the kit arrives, the employee takes a blood sample at home and mails it to the medical facility. When the sample is tested, the employee can have a private online video call with a licensed healthcare provider to review the tests and receive advice and possible health plans for the employee’s future.
A few other health apps available to TDCJ employees are Hinge Health, Learn to Live and Hello Heart. Hinge Health is an exercise and pain relief program. Employees can create an exercise routine personalized for their needs. Virtual physical therapy sessions are also available. Learn to Live is an online mental health care service. This application offers evidence-based wellbeing and cognitive behavioral therapy programs. Hello Heart is an app and blood pressure monitor. This program can track your heart health and gives real-time tips that employees can use to help manage their blood pressure. The app can also keep records of heart health statistics, which an employee can provide to their personal physician.
Mejorado signed up for Hello Heart to monitor her blood pressure during her pregnancy.
“I have some family members who had blood pressure issues during pregnancy, so I wanted to make sure I was keeping track.” Mejorado enjoys taking walks for exercise. “I’m not a gym person, but I like to take walks around the facility during my breaks.”
Morales also was able to use Hello Heart for her personal health.
“As a Blue Cross Blue Shield employee, I felt I needed to test out these devices so that I’m able to speak about them firsthand. My blood pressure was so high I had to go to my doctor and immediately get put on medications,” Morales said. “The good thing though is that health scare kind of kick-started my good health. I was able to get on the right medicines and even lost weight with diet and exercise.”
Another new health initiative is mobile mammography. This mobile medical vehicle can be sent out to various TDCJ units around the state.
“Some correctional officers have difficulty finding time to go to their doctor for checkups and exams,” Morales said. “This mobile mammography really brings the care to them.”
According to Morales, we will be seeing a focus on diabetes on the horizon.
“We launched the Omaha Diabetes Management Program in April. This program will help employees who are diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and to help manage their condition,” Morales said. “That will be a big focus going forward.”
TDCJ employees can find a wealth of health initiatives available to them. Sometimes it can take a bit of motivation, but the TDCJ family will always be here to lend a hand.
Having a loved one confined in a correctional facility can be a difficult and emotional struggle for family members. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is one of the largest correctional agencies in the world, not only in inmate population, but also in geographic size.
To the public, the inner workings of TDCJ may seem vast and complex. So what does a family member do when they have a question or are confused by a procedure? When they hear a rumor? Or when they receive a phone call or letter about an issue from their incarcerated relative?
They reach out to the Office of Family Services (OFS).
To bring a more personal touch to issues from family members, the OFS was created in the Executive Director’s office to provide an outlet for information and referral for inmate families and advocacy groups.
Susan Gunnels was the manager of the OFS, but was promoted to the Deputy Director of the Office of the Independent Ombudsman at the time this article was published.
Gunnels views the office as critical to addressing inquiries, investigating concerns, and seeking resolutions that uphold transparency and trust.
“By ensuring that vital agency updates and opportunities are communicated effectively,” Gunnels said, “we strive to empower families and organizations with the information they need. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a difference, ensuring that those in need feel heard, valued and supported.”
Looking forward, Britteny Skains has since been selected to lead the OFS, effective July 1. She has more than 20 years of criminal justice experience and has held a variety of positions within TDCJ as well as the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am honored to lead the Office of Family Services and continue its vital work,” Skains said.
This transition ensures the continued dedication of the OFS to its mission of supporting families and fostering open communication.
Brandie Coffman and Briana Pope also work in the OFS. Coffman has worked at TDCJ for 15 years, beginning as a correctional officer and rising through the ranks to captain at the Wainwright Unit. This experience motivates her to help the agency and the executive leadership communicate effectively with advocacy organizations and loved ones of incarcerated individuals.
“I personally believe that providing knowledge of an environment that has largely been closed off to the general public, can be most beneficial in assisting loved ones of the incarcerated,” Coffman said. “Time in this job has shown me that when families, advocacy organizations and incarcerated individuals are able to receive good and reliable information, it plays a big part in the agency’s mission to rehabilitate individuals.”
In her five years with the agency, Pope has worked as a warden’s secretary at the Beto and Holliday Units, which provided her experience with handling inmate issues as well as working with inmate families.
Pope gets her motivation to work in the OFS, because of her experience being the loved one concerned about an incarcerated family member.
“I have a kind of unique ability to understand both views. I know first-hand what it is like to have an incarcerated family member. It helps me merge the gap between inmate families and the agency while working to accomplish the TDCJ mission,” she said.
The OFS trains, supports and coordinates with the Family Liaison Coordinators (FLC) at the larger population units. The FLCs are the go-to on the unit when there is a significant question or a concerned phone call from an inmate’s family.
The FLC is selected because of their level of experience and knowledge about unit operations and management. Along with their experience, they tend to have a natural ability and motivation for helping others. At the Wainwright Unit, that person is Debbie Phillips.
With 21 years on the Wainwright Unit, Phillips, a US Air Force veteran and Crisis Response Intervention Support Program (CRISP) Team member, champions the role of the FLC, “to maintain ties with inmates and their families to ultimately reduce recidivism.”
The FLC provides families with information about an inmate’s classification status, their location and any healthcare issues. “We also relay to an inmate any news of emergencies or other necessary information their family needs them to know,” Phillips said. At times, she has had to provide family death notifications and follow-up support for inmates.
Hot topics for the FLC include changes to procedures at the units, especially concerning visitation, such as the recent changes for purchasing items from unit vending machines. There are a lot of questions to answer about tablets, inmate property and medications, especially when an inmate is moving to another unit or when changing their custody level.
Like Phillips, Karen Coffindaffer, FLC at the McConnell Unit in Beeville, brings a ton of experience to her position. Coffindaffer started her career at TDCJ in 1992 and has held positions as warden secretary, grievance investigator and disciplinary supervisor at McConnell, Connally and Garza East and West.
“Each position that I have had the privilege of being selected to perform has assisted and prepared me for the job that I accomplish each day as a family liaison coordinator,” she said.
For Coffindaffer, providing families with timely information and answers to questions, which helps ease confusion and fears, is one of the rewarding aspects of her job.
“I am able to assist wardens and other departments from having to stop their duties, and that means families of inmates don’t have to wait too long for responses,” she said.
McConnell Unit Warden Larissa Wysocki emphasized the importance of FLCs to a unit.
“The FLC can be a valuable asset to a warden, promoting a more supportive and rehabilitative prison environment,” Wysocki said. “An FLC can foster stronger relationships between the prison administration and inmate families, promoting trust and cooperation.”
In addition, the FLC can:
Many of the questions and concerns can be easily addressed, but there are situations where a more in-depth investigation is necessary. Every family inquiry is logged and the FLC enters pertinent information into a shared database, which provides useful diagnostic information for all the FLCs.
According to Gunnels, “The FLC or OFS staff may not be the subject matter expert for every call or question. But we are going to ‘close the loop’ and provide the family with a response.”
The OFS works closely with different advocacy groups, as well. One of these is the Texas Incarcerated Families Association (TIFA). Founded on March 30, 1996, TIFA is now the largest such association in Texas. TIFA is almost always in contact with the OFS and the FLCs at the units. Their goals are to provide information to families who have a loved one incarcerated in a TDCJ facility.
Through cooperation with the OFS, TIFA coordinates subject matter experts from TDCJ divisions to share information with its members.
“We provide new member orientation, and we are always reaching out to Susie Gunnels to arrange for presentations for our members on topics such as commissary, visitation, inmate tablets and medical. When a question or issue arises, we start with Susie!” Former TIFA Executive Director Sharon McKinney said. “For example, an inmate’s family members may believe their loved one is not getting fed or allowed to get a shower or go to commissary, the OFS can swiftly calm those concerns.”
The OFS is also responsible for planning and managing the TDCJ SUMMIT. Held at different times during the year and around the state, the SUMMIT provides families an opportunity to have open conversations with leaders from all of the TDCJ divisions, Board of Pardons and Paroles and Windham School District.
According to Gunnels, it’s a chance for families to meet TDCJ staff and see how all the TDCJ divisions affect the daily lives of inmates and parole clients.
“Agency representatives give presentations and engage with attendees, fostering understanding of available programs and services that support rehabilitation and reentry efforts,” Gunnels said. “Open to the public, these events emphasize the crucial role of family involvement in helping loved ones navigate their journey, strengthening community ties and promoting positive change.”
For the women in the program dorms behind the gates of the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit, they are more than just inmates; they are a community. Day in and day out, they share their life experiences with each other, serve as cheerleaders for their successes, and act as a shoulder to lean on when life gets to be overwhelming.
Camaraderie, accountability and mentorship are the cornerstones of life in each of the five program dorms, where these words resonate deeply among the women.
A shining example of this supportive environment is in the S.T.A.R.S veteran’s dorm; S.T.A.R.S. stands for Service Through Action Reveals Strength. The women in this dorm take pride in their identity and the standards they have set for themselves.
“This program is special to us because when we are outside of this dorm and performing our duties, we are viewed differently by other inmates. It gives us a sense of pride, even though we’re locked up, that we can set a standard of living that encourages others to meet those standards as well,” dorm member Anna Ruiloba said.
The women in this dorm have collaborated to paint their dorm and worked together to acquire coping habits such as learning to play the piano and soon, the guitar.
According to Joyce Turner, another member of the S.T.A.R.S. dorm, these dorms provide them with the mechanisms they need to cope with hardships while building relationships that expand beyond prison gates.
A lot of our sisters have gotten out and they’re reaching back in to say hi and sharing about their life. It gives us a chance to pray for them. We are trying to build an alumnus, so our support remains in here and after release,” she said.
That camaraderie past the gates is a common experience among program dorms. Kristin Gamez, a coach and mentor in the Recovery Housing Opportunity Program (RHOP), emphasized this. RHOP is a voluntary program where women live and work together to understand the foundations of recovery and sobriety, discovering what their lives can look like beyond addiction.
“As a coach and a mentor, we try to meet everybody but there are also those that we just connect with, and we can grow with each other,” she said. “What we are doing in here is translating out there. I have a friend now, no longer a peer, but a friend who is making her life work using the tools that we learned here. That has been a blessing when they reach out and we get to hear and commend the women out there that have been here.”
While the paint here is different and the living area set up for a class, the overall feeling in the room was one of comfort and healing.
Gamez stated that living in the dorms as a coach has been a positive experience.
“Everyone is here to grow and progress and having similar goals allows us to bring positivity into what we are going through and care about each other in the moments that are really hard,” she said.
For Andrisela Ng, RHOP helped her realize her drive to show other women they are not alone in their battle.
“I took the program and then I became a mentor. Before this program, I didn’t realize that sharing different struggles with people who have been where you are really helps to process and network. It helps you learn the right way to cope and then you can adopt what works for you. Now, as a mentor, seeing their growth is exciting,” Ng said.
Similar to RHOP, the transitional dorm is focused on mindset, but not just for sobriety. This is where the life coaches are located and bring their mission of promoting positive change in inmates’ behavior to life.
The transitional dorm at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit was established originally as a behavioral modification dorm for inmates preparing for release. Now, it is available to anyone who is ready to change.
In this dorm, life coaches focus on teaching how your thoughts influence your feelings, which in turn influence your behavior.
Life Coach Enedelia Canales has been incarcerated for more than 15 years. The transitional dorm created a sense of community for her.
“Living in this dorm makes a difference in how you interact with others and even the way you take care of the things that happen in prison. Because it is clean, you can walk in and it makes you take a deep breath and realize that you’re okay,” she said. “It makes a difference in your mental, emotional and physical health.”
Much like Canales, Marcie Moon has been in prison for 31 years and commended the increase in programming similar to these dorms.
“When I got to prison, we didn’t have programs like this, but I really think the programs are helping,” Moon said. “We have success stories and people who are sincerely making changes. I know that it has helped me tremendously and changed my life.”
Similarly, Angelita Salinas said that coming to the transitional dorm was full of positivity.
“It is really benefitting me because I came into the system at the age of 15 then got transferred to TDCJ at 17 years old,” Salinas said. “I wasn’t in a good headspace and my mentality, and my maturity wasn’t where it is at now. This dorm and the life coaches have helped guide me in understanding others and figuring out what I need to do next.”
“If I hadn’t come to prison, I would still be a high school dropout with no education and now I plan on going to college which is something I always imagined but never realized was possible for me,” Salinas said. “It is giving me chances that I never had in the free world, and it is showing me that success can happen no matter what your background is. It will be hard to get there but there are greater things for me beyond my release.”
The STRIVE dorm provides women with the same knowledge that Salinas now has and places them on the path to success before even leaving prison. They work daily to teach the values of their name, Strength Through Restoration, Independence, Vision and Empowerment. The program prepares women for reentry through gender-responsive, trauma-informed programming, career skill development, employment and community support referrals.
“Whenever we leave and get to go home, the STRIVE program gives us clothes, shoes, and hygiene care. We also leave with a job, and everyone has a home plan and somewhere to go,” STRIVE cohort member, Tommi Cherry said.
Another STRIVE cohort member, Evelyn Shires said, “I have been locked up for 30 years and now I am about to go back into the world. This program is huge for someone like me because I don’t know that world out there. I get overwhelmed just thinking about it and in this program, I am surrounded by women and mentors who remind me that I can do this.”
These shared, lived experiences are the backbone of TDCJ program dorms and imperative to the overall success of the inmate. They allow those incarcerated to leave TDCJ not only with the tools they need to be successful, but also with a support system that will last a lifetime.
The Victim Services Division hosted its annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) commemorative ceremony on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville.
Special guests included keynote speaker, Alyssa Heatherly. A victim of family violence, Heatherly personified this year’s theme: Connecting < KINSHIP > Healing, by giving back to her community and serving as an advocate and a voice for victims of childhood trauma.
Beginning when she was around three years old, Heatherly experienced physical abuse, drug use and childhood sexual trauma in her home. When she became a teenager, Heatherly found the courage and spoke out; her abuser was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Lacking a stable household with parents who made a series of poor decisions for her, she committed and dedicated herself to becoming a positive influence on the children in her community.
“I am here to represent and be a voice for victims of childhood trauma,” Heatherly began. “When I was old enough to understand what I went through, it was heart-breaking to feel the heavy hand of distrust.”
“The biggest thing I want to do is to make sure that I can help protect as many children as possible from living a life like I did. Now, I want to be a safe space,” Heatherly said, “and if one child felt like they could come talk to me and have me help them, I’ve done my job.”
To promote awareness, every April, local, state and national agencies and organizations, including the TDCJ Victim Services Division, participate in the national theme set by the Office for Victims of Crime, one of six program offices within the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Speaking on the significance of the annual NCVRW ceremony, Victim Services Division Deputy Director, Amanda Gage said, “It is important to honor victims of crime and to recognize the extraordinary courage and resilience they possess.”
At the first NCVRW ceremony held by TDCJ in 2022, the Victim Services Division planted a memorial tree at the Texas Prison Museum in memory of and to support victims of crime. “By looking at the size, representation and diversity of the TDCJ staff attending the ceremony today,” Gage said, “It shows how dedicated we all are to fulfilling the TDCJ mission and assisting victims of crime.”
Sydney Zuiker, a member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) who chairs the Victim Services Committee, offered these words about NCVRW. “In Texas, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is more than a moment – it’s a movement!”
“Everything is bigger in Texas,” Zuiker said, “including our commitment to supporting victims and their families. Through my work with surviving family members of homicide and victims of violent crime, I’ve seen the depths of loss, but I’ve also seen the strength of Texas communities who show up, stand together and turn pain into purpose. This year’s theme, Connecting < KINSHIP > Healing, is a reflection of who we are – Texans take care of our own. We believe that no one should walk the road to healing alone, and in true Texas fashion, we make sure they never have to.”
Along with TDCJ staff, other criminal justice professionals and victim advocates, crime victims from around Texas made the annual trip to Huntsville. The importance of being at the event helps fulfill their need to be seen, to be heard and to participate in the criminal justice process. This year, Scot Harris made his second trip to the ceremony. Harris’s mom, 76-year-old, Nancy Harris, was robbed on May 20, 2012, at her job at a convenience store near her home in Garland. During the robbery, the offender doused her with lighter fluid and set her on fire. She died from her injuries a few days later, on May 25, surrounded by her four sons and their families.
For Harris, coming to the NCVRW ceremony offers him a healing connection from a community he never expected to be a part of. He acknowledged the importance of those who preceded him, who fought for and pioneered the rights he and his family have today.
“Throughout the difficult and long journey we’ve been through,” Harris said, “we’ve always known from the beginning that there were people at our side and on our side, people who included us in this complex process and people who showed they cared about us.”
Harris added, “Attending this ceremony puts faces on the criminal justice community. Even though most of the people here don’t know who I am or what my family and I have been through, I can see they are people who care about crime victims.”
To close the ceremony, Sydney Zuiker offered these last thoughts for the day. Zuiker said, “I love that the theme of this year’s NCVRW is kinship, because kinship means humanity to me. Humanity is the most important aspect of victim services and community work. What we are doing and what is happening across the nation today is that we are pausing, to not look away from situations that are hard or scary or uncomfortable.”
“For victims of crime,” Zuiker added, “Kinship is more than comfort. It’s a word that means strength and solidarity and hope. Today, we are standing together to show that victims are heard, supported and certainly never forgotten.”
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) believes that rehabilitation is the true path to public safety. An agency this large can’t make this a reality on its own. Volunteers play a pivotal role in this mission and work tirelessly to help inmates on their path to, and in many cases, after release.
One impactful volunteer is Keidrain Brewster, owner of a trucking company, and a bestselling author. Brewster is also the creator of the Big Reform Movement, a community initiative aimed at helping incarcerated individuals find a better future. After his release on August 4, 2014, Brewster experienced success but still felt a void in his life.
“I found myself at the house one day sitting in this big, beautiful home and I was depressed. I didn’t understand why. I was like ‘you’ve got a nice house, a pretty truck, some money...’ and I could never understand why I was feeling that way,” Brewster said. “Well, I noticed that when I was able to go inside the institutions to tell my story, that’s where the fulfillment came in.”
An agency as expansive as TDCJ relies on approximately 27,000 volunteers to help carry out its mission of rehabilitation. Many volunteers like Brewster come in and share their stories with the inmates to provide hope and show them a positive example of change.
“My job is to go in there and get the inmates to flip that switch. It has to be on the inmates to keep the light on,” Brewster said.
Brewster also highlighted the unique impact of working as a volunteer and peer.
“There’s a big difference between an officer telling them something who they see as an authority figure, versus someone such as myself who actually comes from the culture and who was actually raised in it,” Brewster said. “They’re looking at it from the standpoint of ‘well if he did it, I can do it, too.’”
In recognition of his contributions, Brewster received a Governor’s Volunteer Award in 2024 for his volunteer services. This year, Raeanne Hance received a Governor’s Volunteer Award for her volunteer services.
Hance has volunteered in the prison system for roughly 30 years. She had a career in general contracting when someone mentioned that she should try prison ministry. This eventually led to her switching career paths, and after years of serving in various roles for non-profit prison ministry organizations, she is now the Global Director for God Behind Bars.
“I think that volunteers are the center of a life being changed. I think if you come in and you volunteer on a regular basis, I almost picture those inmate residents waiting for you. You’re bringing hope,” Hance said. “That means that the Texas government has done a tremendous job in opening their doors to let others come in and be that ray of hope and sunshine.”
Hance started to recall a story of her first time visiting a jail, where she was handing out Bibles. An inmate asked her, “What is this?” Hance replied, “Well, if you read it, I think you’ll meet a man that you’ll find out really loves you.”
It was at this moment Hance felt like she was where she needed to be.
“There’s a reason why I’m here, and there was suddenly a love that filled my heart for what society considers the worst of us. I felt the same kind of love for them as I do for my own family,” Hance said. “It was just something at that moment that stayed with me the rest of my life.”
Like Brewster, Damon West is a former inmate and current volunteer who understands the impact a volunteer can make on those incarcerated.
West is a keynote speaker best known for sharing his testimony of “be a coffee bean.” West’s story started in June 2009 at a county jail. As he was waiting for the TDCJ bus to take him to prison, he met Muhammad, another inmate who recognized West’s fear. Muhammad taught him a lesson about being a coffee bean.
“You need to imagine prison as a pot of boiling water. You’re going to have three choices on how to respond. You can be like the carrot that goes in hard and becomes soft by the water. You could be like an egg that becomes hard in the water. The third choice is to be like a coffee bean. A coffee bean has the power to change the water around it into coffee,” West recalled Muhammad telling him.
In addition to visiting facilities to speak with inmates, he serves them through education. In 2021, he was asked by the Board of Pardons and Parole to create a curriculum for a peer-led class. With assistance from his curriculum writing friends, Lisa and Rick Spain, West used his life principles and the coffee bean analogy to develop the the Change Agent Program for inmates to transform their lives.
“It doesn’t mean they’ll get out of prison, but it does mean they can get out of that prison in their mind,” West said.
“Every now and then they’ll ask, ‘Why do you do it?’ My response is, ‘That’s how I stay sober,’” West said. “And I think one of the reasons why God got me out of prison was to go out there and bring hope to the people in prison.”
He shared a story of a volunteer who changed his life. West, struggling with his new life in prison, was talking to a volunteer who mentioned God. West became angry and said, “What do you mean, God?” When the volunteer shared “The secret of faith is, if you’re going to pray, don’t worry, but if you’re going to worry, don’t pray.” West said it stuck with him ever since.
The impact of these volunteers was so great that West said, “If I could be one tenth of what those volunteers were to me, I know that I’ve had a positive change.”
These three volunteers are just a tiny piece of the extensive group that serve those incarcerated in TDCJ. Their volunteer service has a direct impact on the lives of inmates, their families and the recidivism rate. Together, our volunteer family strives to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those behind bars, reinforcing the belief that helping one another is what makes humanity truly great.
Inside any large company, corporation, or agency, you often see and hear the word team. There are some people in the workforce who love being a part of a team but the idea of a team building exercise, particularly outside of the workplace, can seem awkward.
What if your workforce team was a basketball team and your opponents were the local heroes of Livingston? Or what if your team building exercise involved a casual walk, or fast run, on a gorgeous April day where you’re splashed with bright colored powder?
Recently, volunteers at the Polunsky Unit and other TDCJ facilities in the surrounding area experienced just that. TDCJ’s basketball team, The Polunsky Point Guards, played the Polk County Go Getters in a basketball event that’s nearing its twentieth year of existence. The Go Getters team is made up of Special Olympics athletes of all ages. These games are a terrific way to promote local Livingston athletes with special needs to engage in community activities and sports. CID Deputy Division Director Daniel Dickerson played in this year’s game. “We got stomped!” Dickerson said with a smile. “I can’t remember what the score was, but we were just having fun.”
Dickerson, a former warden at the Polunsky Unit, sees these games as a way for the agency to get more involved in the community.
“The public may not understand how things are at TDCJ because they only know about prisons from what they’ve seen on Hollywood TV shows and movies,” Dickerson said. “Of course that is nothing like what it really is. So, if we can get more involved in our local towns that will show the community that we are all normal people and just like any other person in that community.”
The way employees interact with one another after a social event creates a positive attitude in the workplace, as well as in their interactions with inmates. The people may then think of new ways to connect with the community and the cycle continues. It can even be something as simple as a gift for the community members.
“Polunsky Unit made these nice gift bags for every one of the Go Getters. So, after the game we handed out the gift bags to everyone on the team,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson knows it can be a struggle for TDCJ employees to get events up and running.
“It can be a challenge because everyone is busy. We all have responsibilities and families, and you feel like you can’t volunteer any time, but you need to make the time, because once you start, you immediately see the good that can come from it and becoming a positive part of these communities.”
Although Mr. Dickerson is no longer at Polunsky, he knows that unit is in good hands.
“There are some correctional staff there who go above and beyond when it comes to community engagement and TDCJ employee fundraising activities. Shari Hendry is one of them. She is always full of energy. I think a lot of the activities are going strong because of Shari Hendry,” Dickerson said.
Correctional Officer Shari Hendry coordinates Polunsky Unit events, the most recent being the 5K Color Run. It’s not every day that an employee can throw powdered paint at their supervisor, but on April 4 at the Polunsky Unit the 5K Color Run allowed employees to do just that.
Hendry promoted the event, “I knew I wanted to do a physical type of event. Something that could boost morale. We ended up having 105 people sign up and give their donations. Out of those, we had 75 people doing the run.”
“There were team members there to throw powdered paint at the runners. We all had our shirts that we’d ordered, and they were white, and they say Polonsky Color Run on them. It just brightens the mood. We had stations set up around the unit where the volunteers could throw paint at the runners. We also had gold, silver, and bronze medals for the winners of the race,” Hendry said.
The color run and other events keep Hendry busy. “That’s why I love to do it. I love to see people building their bonds and friendships. That always helps with understanding and getting to know people on the unit. Some of our employees never even see one another because they work in different departments on different shifts, and they’re like, hey, you work here?” The money raised from this event will go into the Polunsky Unit’s petty cash, which is used for family emergencies if needed and for events during the winter holidays.
If a TDCJ employee is interested in getting their unit or office involved in community events, it can be helpful to attend local city meetings. Also, contact your local police department and sheriff’s office. Use social media to find out about upcoming events in your area and who to contact about volunteering.
“Get involved in your community, motivate your staff and get them involved in the community too,” Hendry said.
In the heart of Bartlett, Texas, the Bartlett Unit stands as a beacon of innovation. For the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s (TDCJ) first Innovation Unit, a few unexpected and unique additions have transformed the atmosphere.
For the first time, the unit has embarked on two heartwarming initiatives: the introduction of a supervised petting zoo to its visitation area and a unique partnership with the Williamson County Animal Shelter to train deserving dogs with the dedicated help of inmates. These ventures signal a bold step towards fostering connection, compassion and valuable skill development within the unit.
The crash of a gate, a radio going off and excited voices are all normal sounds for visitation, but at the Bartlett Innovation Unit, an unexpected symphony of sounds is about to unfold. The bleat of a goat, the neigh of a horse and cluck of chickens. Feeding animals is now a part of the family experience for visitation. This addition to visitation provides families with a unique experience they can all enjoy together.
First, a rabbit was brought out for the kids to pet. Next, they fed a miniature horse named Charlie and a goat named Esther. This was the experience that Quinn, 4 years old, and Declan, 2 years old, will likely remember while visiting their uncle, Chris Bolton, an inmate at the newly reopened unit.
His sister, Kathryn Driver and her husband Daniel are happy for the new bonding experience. “My brother has been in for 15 years, and we’ve never seen animals, especially at visitation. It’s kind of exciting for the children because I know they get bored. They brought toys, which keeps the kids busy, and the animals are helpful. It’s exciting,” Driver said.
The adults are given a cup of Cheerios, and they distribute them to the kids as they feed Esther and her friends through a gate in the outside visitation area. For Driver, it helps the kids connect with the uncle they rarely see.
“It’s a bonding experience that we would never have the opportunity for because no other unit offers it. I can bring my kids here and know that they’re getting a close experience with their uncle that they never had otherwise.”
For Uncle Chris, it’s about making memories of their visits.
“It’ll give them a memory when they come up here to visit me. You know, they won’t feel down the whole time. I just think it’s a great thing. It’s good for the families and brings everyone together.”
The program not only fosters connections between inmates and their families but also provides a nurturing environment for the animals.
As the animal family continues to grow, Bartlett inmates are teaching basic commands to foster dogs from the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter to help give them a second chance at finding a home. Eight inmates, all veterans, spend weeks training dogs from the shelter. Right now, there are four dogs in the Leashing Hope program, but they are expecting the program to grow. Through this program, they are gaining experience and learning new skills that aid in their rehabilitation journey.
The unit’s warden, Lorie Larson, loves how the animals add to the unit.
“The inmates are experiencing a newfound sense of joy and fulfillment with their interactions with the animals showing them love and care. They are dedicated to training the animals to be their companions. The animals themselves have become beloved members of the unit, transforming the space into a comforting and welcoming home for all of us.”
Prison units from 1849 to around 1950 had a bell. These bells were not used as a ceremonial act but as a communication method to announce different activities, such as count time, chow time, emergencies, escapes, and impending weather. Bell peals of different cadences were established to alert staff of a specific activity or event.
The Central State Farm bell is still used today during the TDCJ Fallen Officer Memorial Ceremonies.
15 Years
Tolani A. Abiola
Carlos Aguilar
Dustin G. Anderson
Stacey C. Babauta
Ahmed O. Banjoko
Arturo Beckett
Scott W. Billeaud
William A. Boothe
James M. Clark
Jason T. Creacy
Kimberly L. Davis
Brian N. Dean
Jerry D. Defoor
Nicole R. Fuller
Suzanne M. Fults
James S. Galvan
Odett V. Garcia
Marcos A. Gonzalez
Donna F. Goolsby
Shirley Harrison
Michael E. Hipps
Richard C. Hughes
Kenneth M. Hunt Jr.
Phyllis R. Irby
Charles U. Kanife
Sandra P. King
John A. Kolawole
Kerry M. Landrum Jr.
Latoya G. Limbrick
John Litman Jr.
Sandra Y. Manns
Jared D. Maranga
Kinsey L. Martinez
Courtney R. Mason
Jamie A. McClelland
Melissa A. McDaniel
Gina K. Monroe
John M. Musyoki
Victor B. Mwofoh
Charity A. Nwaokolo
Tina L. Offord
Titilayo Otolorin
David L. Perez
Jenifer R. Piehl
Michelle M. Ralston
Autumn A. Raulston
Erica J. Redic
Jason M. Reyna
Richard M. Rivers
Edward E. Roman
Keith B. Sandefer
Juan Santos Jr.
Courtney C. Shell
Mary A. Stewart
Mark J. Stobie
Justin W. Taylor
Timothy G. Thompson
Jeremiah E. Walker
Rachel E. White
Donna L. Wishon
20 Years
Stephanie R. Alexander
Douglas R. Angerer
Marc I. Bishop
Laura B. Brown
Joann J. Castillo
Carolyn L. Dalesio
Refugio Guerra
Ruben R. Gutierrez Jr.
Velvia V. Hargrove
Sheila J. Hearon
Mark R. Hernandez
Kathy B. Hightower
Thresia G. Johnson
Cynthia Lackey
Clarisa C. Lopez
Juan A. Lucero
Melissa K. Marx
Lucian C. Marza
Joshua L. Mattia
Courtney M. Mize
Martha E. Neaves
Emily E. Nnake
Olukayode J. Ogunbanwo
Daniel K. Ojo
Cynthia L. Reilly
Lori B. Rincon
Joe L. Roquemore
Kellie R. Russell
Belinda F. Sammon
Kimberly A. Shipp
Alicia G. Sims
Donald R. Smith
Sydney L. Smith
Monica L. Smith
Eddy Walley
25 Years
Demetria D. Allen
Edmundo M. Cueto Jr.
Kirk L. Curtis
Datroynard D. Ellis
Veronica A. Ference
George R. Flores
Denise A. Gomez
Roel Gutierrez
Amador Hernandez
Faith P. Holt
Stephanie A. Karnes
Alphonsus G. Keke
Jason L. Lindsey
David E. Madjemite
Helen P. Mayorga
Dacia M. McInnis
Gene E. Miller
Samuel K. Okoroji
Daryl M. Payne
Joslyn A. Robins
Joe Rubio
Jimmy C. Sullivan III
Marilyn D. Taylor
Tashena D. Wallace
Terena Williams
Hubert D. Williams Jr.
30 Years
Kristi D. Alexander
John A. Bell
Sylvia Campbell
John J. Cirone
Julie A. Courtney
Michael S. Crutcher
Debra A. Evans
Rhonda R. Fenton
John L. Lodini
Jose A. Lozano
Sabrina L. McNabb
Lydania U. McNeil
Javier M. Ontiveros
Belinda A. Perez
Mauricio M. Rincon
Jose D. Rivera
Felipe J. Rodriguez
Leticia Scott
Patrick D. Spiller
Fred B. Steck
Luis A. Villarreal
Amanda M. Walker
Sherry S. Washington
Brandon D. Whitt
Sammy L. Wilson
35 Years
Paul A. Belinowski
Guy R. Cabeen Jr.
Velita K. Humphrey
Eunice L. Knight
Terrilyn H. Merchant
Tammy L. Ray
Melanie K. Sisco
Robert D. Warren
40 Years
Charles J. Bridges
Curtis E. Franklin
January 2025
15 Years
Gary L. Abrahams
Kabiru O. Anifowose
Anthony A. Atzenhoffer Jr.
Nancy P. Baeza
Jimmy D. Bailey Jr.
Sabrina M. Barnes
Sherry L. Barrington
Iris J. Bishop
Lisa A. Breder
Dorothy M. Britton
Ginger L. Campos
Vicenta B. Cantu
Annadalia B. Cardenas
Jaime M. Cazares
Kil P. Chang
Ernesto Cortez Jr.
Chance M. Cozbey
Angela D. Crager
Jessica A. Dacko
Justin H. Dyer
Carla D. Evans
Betty A. Finley
Patricia L. Fite
Donna L. Force
James R. Fulton
Arturo Garcia Jr.
Roxana Gauna Chavez
Tiffany L. Gilbert
Shannon S. Gonzalez
Cynthia D. Hagy
Renee S. J-Rose
Whitney N. Johnson
Bedford F. Loyaly
Deanna G. MacIntyre
Jimmy L. Murray
Oluwole O. Olasoji
Adewale O. Quadri
Bellarmin Remezo
Agustin Rodriguez Jr.
Tommy S. Runyon
Lloyd W. Schuenemann Jr.
Kenneth D. Shelton II
Lori Smyth
Andrew C. Swarm
Ceondria C. Taylor
Melody L. Thornton
Jannet M. Torres
Jude U. Uchewuakor
Dana H. Weathington
Miranda J. Weaver
Clint M. Widner Jr.
Janelle R. Williams
20 Years
Minerva Badillo
Lucas I. Baxter
Dorris A. Beaird
Shane L. Brooks
Tracey J. Ellis
Alan C. Gilliam
Candice M. Grable
Trista L. Gregory
Lance J. Horton
Sally Y. Hosea
Sarah T. Huser
Shaneika N. Jones
Justin T. Larson
Chastity C. Lathan
Todd E. Loaiza
Rolando Martinez
Kathy J. Maurer
Michael E. Odika
Deborah D. Owens
Joseph R. Pierce
Ragin M. Reese
Deborah D. Riley
Kristie L. Robertson
Sheronda G. Ross
Bruce E. Salsbery
Samuel G. Samora
Regina A. Sanchez
Teresa A. Sanders
Lukuman A. Tiamiyu
Saul R. Valdez
Brian K. Washington
Regina R. Young
Kathy J. Zenker
25 Years
Cedric D. Adams
Cristin L. Boykin
Jennie C. Bracey
Benny G. Bundy
Reginald T. Burns
Tammy M. Butler
Peter J. Camacho
Jose A. Chong
Diana Clark
Enrique M. Delacruz Jr.
Jose L. Deleon
Adan E. Garcia
Seth J. Gobar
Kelly Grant
Robert E. Hayes
Jaime C. Hovis
Elena A. Hudson
Reka L. James
Calvin B. Johnson
Alesia A. Jones
Johnathon L. Josey
Melissa A. Kimbrough
Roland A. Lewis
Amanda J. McCree
Kenya A. Parks
Michael W. Pressnell
James W. Smith
Jeremy R. Stanchos
Bobby G. Stanford
Ronald A. Taylor II
Stacie A. Walton
Tamika M. Williams
30 Years
Jeffery L. Beagles
Bonnie S. Bobo Isaac
Vonaceil Chandler
Shera A. Colter Barton
Shannon D. Easter
Pablo G. Garza
Kevin R. Grizzle
Carlton D. Hightower
Mary W. Hightower
Donald C. January
Catrina L. Johnson
Lloyd P. Kuykendall Jr.
Virgle E. Miller Jr.
James M. Mouliere
Wilbert C. Orphey Jr.
Clint E. Pavlock
Ronessa R. Rayfield
Ricky R. Rice
J M Stevenson
Jesse S. Waldon
Billy P. Williams
James R. Wynne Jr.
35 Years
Sandra M. Lee
Cherie A. Miller
40 Years
Kenneth R. Batiste
Jerry J. Brice
Edward S. Gilbert
David Hollins
Linda J. Love
Carl Neal
Cesar Sanchez
James W. Wenzel
45 Years
Janice M. Birks
February 2025
15 Years
Mudasiru O. Adepoju
Yolanda E. Barlow
Jason B. Barnett
Bryan K. Brooks
Cherrelle W. Bynum
Vanessa K. Campbell
Dana L. Carrell
Melissa Carrillopena
Cassie L. Cooper
Brently D. Cox
Lisa M. Crawford
Erwin R. Dahl Jr.
Sean L. Day
Kenneth R. Delaney
Patricia Dominguez
Willis J. Dossey Jr.
Cordero T. Gentry
Kristine M. Gentry
Pedro G. Gonzales Jr.
Indalecio Gonzales
Dora Gonzales
James N. Griffin
William O. Hill
Brenda M. Hines
Barbie C. Hunter
Steven M. Hyde
Kizito O. Ibe
Bennie J. Irwin
Melanie L. Lassman
Modupe O. Lesi
Dionisio Lopez
Sara M. Lynaugh
Billy A. McCreary Jr.
Robert A. McLain
Anita Mendoza
Rebecca V. Miller
Rebecca J. Nelson
Oliver A. Obi
Belen M. Olguin
Gilbert Ortiz
Jeffrey T. Pace
Jiji Paul
Minnie A. Pettygrew
Patrick N. Pylant
Shannon L. Reed
Rebecca Rivas
Miranda S. Rowlett
Myra L. Sabbs
Richard A. Salazar
Bryan K. Sanders
Doris E. Shelton
James P. Smith
Aryam S. Smith
Dolores Standlea
Michele M. Stephens
Shirley F. Taylor
Ernest Vega Jr.
Donnale Washington
Candice M. Wells
William H. Westfall
Crystal Y. Williams
Tommy Ybarra
20 Years
Mark V. Allison
Alexander L. Bell
Martin A. Bellone
Annie R. Coleman
Cathryn C. Davila
Christopher W. Divin
Charles O. Ehikhamhen
Martha M. Gonzalez
Misty L. Graham
Cory D. Green
Lawanda Green
Eddison Griffith
Eliud Guzman
Rashantay M. Harris
Ebony T. Harrison
Tanya N. Hudnall
Tongela S. Jacobs
Tajuana E. Johnson
Crystal J. Judie
Emilia A. Kolar
Bobbie J. Kuykendall
Lashonda R. Lynch
Jennifer S. Mable
Eric F. Maranon
Tiffany M. Mason
Cory A. McCarty
Monica E. McCormick
Vonda L. McDaniel
Becky J. Mercer
Ernestina C. Montoya
Natalie Noble
Brandi N. Ortega
Wilfredo C. Perez
Audrianne Y. Redd
Jack D. Reeves
Erin F. Richard
Albert B. Sendejo
Terri R. Speer
Leslie M. Swan
Lequita S. Thomas
Leta M. Warner
Irvin R. Washington Jr.
Sundae Webb Mcduffie
Yesenia M. Yzaguirre
Ty B. Zuber
25 Years
Larry R. Anderson
Bertha S. Arguelles
Kathleen K. Blifford
Valencia R. Brown
Paul A. Casas
Rudolph Castaneda
Albert L. Courtney
Olukayode K. Dosunmu
Sondra C. Fitchett
Norma G. Flores
Hilda Garcia
Robert L. Harkrider
Kenneth D. Herring
Deborah L. Kelly
Patricia A. Ledbetter
Rachel Lipsey
William M. Majette
Latasha M. Maston
Anthony T. Mature
Daniel D. McCoy
Kelly R. Metz
Kingsley A. Onwuli
Linda K. Rollins
Martha D. Saenz
Kevin L. Sanders
Sharenda R. Thomas
Cheryl R. Voisin
Rhonda R. Ware
Linda J. Warren
Martha A. Williams
30 Years
Rowland A. Akpom
Jarvis L. Atkins
Jimmy D. Bagby
Jennifer R. Blake
Bryan K. Broussard
Charlotte L. Brown
Michael B. Cross
Rebecca L. Dewbre
Eric G. Fletcher
Jason M. Gould
Katina Y. Hollie
Lydia A. Hudnell
Susan J. Letter
Honoria V. Martinez-Tenorio
Kelvin D. Masters
Randy S. Mobley
Maxine M. Myers
Cody R. Parker
Karen B. Richards
Elvis D. Simmons
Brian S. Smith
Katina D. Smith
Mark W. Thompson
Cesar D. Trejo
Karen A. Vaughns
Landron M. Williams
Derek W. Williams
April M. Zamora
35 Years
Margaret A. Birdwell
Allen C. Cullar
Demetrius E. Hollins
Vijaya K. Katragadda
David Marsh
Cherie A. Miller
Linda L. Osio
Beverly M. Parker
Philip T. Rodriguez
Patricia A. Sonsel
Kenneth L. Thompson
40 Years
Carrie J. Cobb
Jesus Delapena
Joseph P. Doherty
Jason R. Green
Jerry D. Jiles
Donald E. Muniz
Ronnie A. Sanford
April S. Thompson
Edith J. Webb
Nolen E. Wilson
March 2025
15 Years
Ramon A. Adeniji
Kathy S. Akin
Brady C. Allison
Georges Bate
Steven E. Bonton
Steven L. Boyd
Jamie L. Brooks
Shannon J. Budell
Jonathan W. Burks
Tanya L. Cantu
Robert F. Carroll Jr.
Shelley R. Chambers
Brandie Coffman
David N. Conde
Aj Coon
Tina M. Darity
Cynthia M. Dean
Trenda Y. Doze
Jeffery A. Ervin
Eva Q. Escalante
Veronica J. Falaye
Javier Garcia
Theron K. Harrison Sr.
Twanna R. Haskins
Tanira D. Holman
Thomas E. Hudgens Jr.
James M. Hurst
Janicka L. Jones
Tilneshia L. Jones
Pamela G. Lane
James P. Lowery
Isabel Macias
Richard D. Manear
John E. McClanahan
Michael E. McLoughlin
David J. Middleton
Phillip C. Mitchell
Linda F. Montgomery
Troy V. Mortensen
George D. Nelson
Lisa G. Nelson
Rose M. Nelson
James F. Parish
Christopher Polk
Luis A. Reyes
Noel R. Reyna
Shannon I. Sanchez
Kristy A. Saucedo
Marjeanne Simon
Jonathon D. Smallwood
Keith B. Sneed
Doris L. Sutherland
Sherry D. Taylor
Troy L. Thrash
Dustin A. Twombly
Jorge A. Vasquez
Gloria I. Weems
Raymond P. Wheeler Jr.
Tiffany A. Williams
Richard A. Wolf
Colby A. Woodrum
Jeffrey O. Woods
20 Years
Martin Acosta
Oluwakemi O. Adeusi
Cynthia C. Anding
Juan M. Andrade Jr.
Demetria L. Aziz
David W. Bates
Greg A. Batesla
Vickie D. Brown
Joni L. Bullard
Christopher B. Cegielski Jr.
Cynthia M. Dean
Steven W. Ellis
Tarophilya L. Gordon
Lilynn M. Hamner
Helen M. Hartsfield
Tonya M. Heiler
Craig P. Huffman
Willie Iverson
Kimberley N. Johnston
Charles T. Knous
Michelle R. Lamoon
Paula M. Lopez
Lorie A. Manrique
Shiemika Matthews
Jacques N. Mayer
Mark T. McGaughey
Glenda J. McNiel
Monica L. Mitchell
Kinitra D. Mitchell
Robin Munn
Lawrence O. Olatunde
Jason A. Overall
Lavada L. Owens
Leslie E. Pee
Brian H. Rayburn
Raul Razo
Therita D. Robinson
Amelinda Rodriguez
Humberto Rosales
Gary M. Schattel
Stephen M. Sloterdijk
Jeanetta M. Spikes
Lashea A. Thompson
Modesto Urbina Jr.
Michael W. Venable
Wayne L. Watterson
Lisa M. Weiss
Robert A. Wheeler
My-Loan White
Erick K. Whitworth
25 Years
Jose L. Aguayo
Jenevieve Andersen
Melinda S. Billingsley
James M. Brinkley Jr.
Tracy L. Brown
Jason D. Campbell
Russell W. Cowan
Frank J. Cunningham Jr.
Benjamin F. Ferguson
Robin C. Gibson
Beatriz E. Gifford
Kimberly M. Gilbert
Thelma J. Gomez
Michael L. Gunnels
Joe D. Mangum
Shameka L. McGaha
Vitalis A. Okere
George Regalado Jr.
David B. Ritchie
Misty M. Rogers
Angela L. Rudd
Guy C. Uzodinma
Stephanie J. Vondra
30 Years
Jerry D. Adams Jr.
Lance D. Bledsoe
Sammy G. Bond II
Kennith E. Brady
Diego Contreras
Matthew G. Dunbar
Mona L. Ferguson
Audrea Z. Gannaway
Kerry P. Hahn
Albert A. Hearon
Elbert G. Holmes
James A. Hoop
Kimberly D. Keenum Pinon
Elizabeth A. Klevenski
Jessica Leyva
Mike R. Malone
Ralph Marez Jr.
Dennis A. Martin
Donald H. Mullen
Paula S. Oliver
Laura L. Pryor
Ricky C. Rasbeary
Charles P. Stokes
Olene Y. Supak
Gloria J. Warren
35 Years
Francis K. Akah
Earl B. Brown Jr.
Patsy L. Krueger
Fred N. Magouirk
Arnoldo Martinez
Billy J. Reese
40 Years
Yulonda M. Hill
Adrian Molina
Ianthia Ross
Roynett E. Shaw
Roger C. Shed
45 Years
Guadalupe Cantu
April 2025
15 Years
Sunday A. Adeyemi
Bennie R. Allison
Constance Armstrong
Chinenye H. Ayinde
Robert S. Bower
Edward L. Brent
Jekerria R. Carter
Delana M. Chachere
Bruce Cobbs
Jeffery S. Daniels
Marshall D. Edwards
Kenneth W. Flowers
Jason P. Francis
Fran G. Freeland
Staycee L. Gibson
Micheal Gober
Darryl Goffney
Irma L. Gonzalez
Joseph M. Green
Richard L. Gutierrez
Robert R. Harrell
Michael W. Harris
Fredrick R. Harris Jr.
James W. Hogg
Frank R. Holland
Michelle D. Hyte-Willingham
Tonya Johnson
Janice D. Jones
Rexford Kingston
Kadie Koroma
Terry L. Lane Jr.
Monica R. Lang
Naomi A. Law
Jacob M. Little
Maryme B. Lozano
Anthony A. Mack
Steven Martinez
Carolyn C. Mayo
Amy E. McCalister
Bradley R. Mcdanel
Roy E. McGaugh
Sandra Rodriguez
Eric J. Rolling
Vanessa R. Ross
David E. Smith
Steven R. Taylor
James M. Thrailkill
Michael D. Watson
Ronald L. White
Marvin G. Williams
Joseph M. Wren
20 Years
Esmeralda Aguirre
Christiana A. Akintode
Jamie L. Brewer
Rut M. Cano
Ricardo Carmona
Annette Castellanos
Salvador A. Castro
Karin L. Chadwick
Sean D. Dailey
Michael C. Dowdy Jr.
Tiffany T. Eldridge
Necole A. Ellison
Theodule N. Foncha
Desiree A. Garcia
Cornelia Y. Garrett
Cortney M. Gibson
Deborah F. Grayer
Adam M. Harley
Lisa Hasette Garcia
Melisa I. Hill
Neddie P. Holland Moore
Ivory Howard
Ltanya L. Ivory
Jennifer R. Joseph
Jaunissia N. Josiah
Kurtis L. Kirkham
Dayla L. Kitchens
Coty L. Kitkoski
Ramon M. Kliatchko
Chantel D. Lavigne
David J. Louie
Shikkila J. Morrison
Mary L. Pedraza
Karen M. Pennington
Dana D. Philipp
Eric J. Reed
Maricela Rendon
Alicia M. Scott
Jessica E. Shelly
Donald W. Tyner II
Melissa O. Vega
Effie M. Venson
Jacqueline M. Williams
David K. Winkles
25 Years
Sanjuanita V. Aynes
Carie A. Beaty
Yesenia Bravo Vazquez
Deanna E. Breckenridge
Amy K. Brown
Ysabel Camacho
Angela T. Choate
Joseph I. Degeorge
Ramona Denson
Tammy L. Dunnam
Roshanda L. Ferguson
Laura M. Franco
Eladio S. Gallegos Jr.
Alberto M. Gamboa
Joe L. Garcia
Rita L. Garfield
Kenneth R. Griggs
Dinah R. Hoffman
Kara Howe
Latashia R. Humphrey
Victor W. Johnson
Michael T. Johnson
Ella V. Johnson
Tiffany N. Long
Olga A. Lopez
Sandra K. Lott
Gabriel G. Lozano
Tony R. Mason
Raeann Y. McMillian
April D. Reyna
Karla Ricalday
Shaunte D. Rideaux
Ana L. Rodriguez
Deborah K. Salsiccia
Lisamarett Sanchez
Kathy Sinette
Christopher R. Smith
Cynthia S. Stout
Joel H. Subia
Enid B. Thomas
Michael A. Thomas
Carolyn G. Thompson
Jesus J. Valdez
Marcela D. Vasquez
Brenda J. Wilson
Julia N. Wooten
30 Years
Leo Carbajal
Darrell R. Carrington
Jonathan W. Clark
Michael W. Colley
Laura B. Dean
Pamela E. Duncan
Harlan E. Gannaway
Shirley C. Gardner
Joe C. Gonzales Jr.
Rodolfo Gonzalez
Jason W. Hall
Gregory S. Hicks
Angela R. Hill
Martha N. Jeffrey
Tomeka R. Johnson
Tiffany S. Johnson
Kelly L. Kotzur
Aubrey E. Lamphere
Pamela S. Mcmahon
Rachel Opeters
Michael H. Proctor
Bobby D. Rigsby
Kenneth B. Rushing
Melissa F. Strong
Buck L. Taylor
35 Years
Kevin L. Andis
Luis R. Garza Jr.
Yolanda P. Green Gibson
Denise A. Henry
Rodney W. Lester
Tammy L. Ray
Edward Salazar
Cynthia A. Tatsch
Donald E. Williams
Phyllis Y. Wiser
40 Years
Jeff M. Baldwin
Louis E. Castell Jr.
Broderick L. David
Lee V. Glass Jr.
Charles D. Hubbard Jr.
John M. Knapp
Gloria S. Mills
James B. Whitehead
50 Years
Dazawion D. Cooper
55 Years
Terry W. Wunderlich
May 2025
15 Years
Moses A. Abdulahi
Kolawole M. Alabi
Michael A. Aleman Jr.
Tony L. Baggett
John B. Bell
Etta S. Brooks
Gertrude A. Brown
Homa E. Caldwell Tomas
Valentina Casarez
Faisal G. Chaudhry
Shirley A. Clark
Stephanie L. Cox
Jessica N. Curtis
Titilayo S. Elias
Shawn R. Estes
Christopher A. Farrell
Nolan R. Glass
Terry C. Godosar
Arianna A. Gonzalez
Tommy Green
Ashley D. Hatchett
Moneik H. Jackson
Ajith K. Job
Jarrod G. Johnson
Lekendrick D. Johnson
Garrett N. Jonas
Darin R. Lawson
Sharon R. Lee
Stacey L. Lilljedahl
Hope B. Lopez
Daniel L. MacWilliams Jr.
Angela M. Martin
Garland M. Matlock
Gordon H. Monk III
Joanna R. Njie
Delicia D. Oguinn
Jesus J. Olazaba
Gary D. Polk
Ashley R. Pygott
Jose L. Ramirez
Jeremy S. Raschke
Donald R. Reese
John E. Roberts
Renato L. Rosales
Danny W. Scott
Sean O. Sutherland
Ernest S. Talasek
Cody L. Timmons
Pamela L. Waid
Joshua W. Whitney
Robert N. Williams III
Steven P. Wilson
Colby A. Woodrum
Thomas H. Wright
20 Years
Mudashiru O. Ajiteru
Patrick W. Allmon
Daniel L. Boone
Elliott J. Broussard
Barry L. Burton
Jacqueline P. Butler
Priscilla Calzadillas
Randy Cavazos
Robin G. Chandler
Jonathan D. Convis
Abel Cortinas
Bobby R. Crawford
Sonia Delgado
Shannon E. Edwards
Audrey S. Farley
Troy K. Fisher
Michael P. Goff
Jimmy L. Hail
Kevin D. Harris Sr.
Scotty M. Henderson
Michael J. Kluck
Chelsie L. Lenor
Bryant K. Lister
Larry J. Litzman
Nyeiches S. Love
Raul Melero
Sarah M. Miller
Daniel Munoz
Sheena D. Osborn Cross
Mark A. Rhodes
Marta Rodriguez
Michael H. Ross
Marie A. Titus
Gregory L. Voss
Nadia L. Washington
Talmi T. Winfrey
25 Years
Raymond L. Cain Jr.
Anthony W. Coleman
Ruth A. Enriquez
Enrique Mata
Susan A. Moffitt
Melinda M. Ozuna
Misty M. Rogers
Priscilla A. Saldana
Yvette D. Scarlett
Margaret A. Schillaci
David E. Schlewitz
Claudia B. Ukutegbe
George R. Walters
Rachel S. Washington
Timothy D. Weich
Minnie L. White
Bernice Williams
Joanne Williams
Antoinette R. Winston
30 Years
Ricardo C. Acosta
Rodger E. Bowers
Jeffery A. Butler Jr.
Christopher G. Carter
Christopher W. Cirrito
Dustan B. Commander
Early M. Douglas
James W. Johnson Jr.
David L. Lara
Sandy B. Major
Miguel L. Martinez
English McFadden
Jose M. Molina
Mario Munoz Jr.
Christian O. Nweke
Brian J. Nye
Mark A. Raley
Ricky C. Rasbeary
Rhonda A. Roark
Jerry J. Sanchez
Chadwick A. Shoop
Yolanda S. Tamez
Eloy Torres
Monica P. Transue
Yvette Winston
35 Years
Leontyne Haynes
Monica C. Lee
40 Years
Thomas R. Butler
Susan G. Byers
Roy G. Callaway Jr.
Joe R. Carmichael
Lavan J. Cooper
Norma A. Gray
Mumin O. Shegow
Charles F. Washington
45 Years
Therman E. Lane
Belton K. Woodson
January 2025
Amos O. Adetunji
Ceymon S. Andrews
Victoria Ankamah
Samuel O. Anyamene
James D. Arnold
Larmon D. Arons
Sunny Benivamondez
Don L. Boyce
Karen E. Buckridge
John D. Busalacchi
Rebecca J. Carson
Jeryl D. Cockerham
Jeanie R. Conn
Robbie L. Fields-Maddox
Vanessa C. Galvan
Alcario Garcia, Jr.
Michael Glaspie
Denise A. Gomez
Larry S. Graham
Sharon M. Griffin
Joyce M. Guerra
Beverly S. Harbour
Jose M. Hernandez
Edgar E. Hinojosa
Ginger L. Hoover
Gary W. Hotz
Johnny L. Jackson
Jefferson L. Jacoway
Patricia D. Jones
Maciej T. Jug
Kenneth R. Kirk
Ezekiel O. Laleye
Joadynne Lane
Julianna Lawrence
James I. Laws
Lula V. Lincoln-Moon
Lucian C. Marza
Kim K. Maust
Bertha M. Means
Gene E. Miller
Tammy J. Morgan
Robert Muhammad
Johnson T. Ode
Saka B. Olaifa
Akon M. Orok
Norma J. Perdomo
Sergio E. Policarpo
Rebecca Rodriguez
Virginia D. Rose
Vincent E. Sidney
Martha M. Stayton
Cynthia M. Stiner
Tony H. Thompson
Craig A. Vandyke
Juan M. Villarreal, Jr.
Jerry L. Walden, Jr.
Deborah A. Ward
Douglas W. Whitten
Tanya L. Wilson
February 2025
Darrell D. Aguilar
Frankie P. Alton
Misty M. Barton
Juanita L. Baxter
John W. Bennett II
Patsy R. Caldwell
Dana M. Cannon
Man R. Chang
Brenda A. Davis-Green
Maria D. DeLeon
Shavonne M. Edwards
Shara D. Elder
Natalie D. Hadnot
Terry D. Holley
Ronald L. Hughes
Manolito B. Icaro
Mike D. Klodginski
Sammy E. Magana
Charles L. Martin
Freda F. McDaniel
Steven D. McDaniel
Jeff L. McManus
Randy S. Mobley
Olukayode J. Ogunbanwo
Norma E. Olvera
Emmanuel C. Oteh
Richard L. Patrick
Brad C. Phillips
Deborah A. Phillips
Lisa E. Rawlins-Atwood
Regina K. Schiller
Michael J. Shaw
Dina M. Topewith
Billy P. Williams
Susan L. Woodrome
Joe H. Yzaguirre
Veronica Zamora
March 2025
Yvette S. Alexander
Mark V. Allison
Phyllis L. Ashley
Fnu. Babujose
Patricia D. Benson-Myers
Brian D. Bowers
Maria K. Brown
Paula P. Brown
Mark A. Bruns
Alberto G. Campos
Stephen Cassidy
David G. Decker
Benjey B. Ferguson
Elizabeth M. Fisk
Ilda C. Galan
Kimberly C. Gilbert
Jacqueline L. Glenn
Antonio R. Gonzalez
Holly L. Hall
Dennis W. Hanks
Eddie Hernandez
Michael L. Herrington
Kevin W. Hrebik
Serena D. Hudson
Sarah T. Huser
John P. Jacobs
Rhonda L. Jensen
Kristen T. Kelly
Steven T. Koncaba
Flora M. Kynard
Kathy J. Maurer
Michael S. McCaslin
Adriane A. McCoy
Richard D. McGrath
Marcus D. McIntyre
Bradley A. McLane
Sergio F. Moya
Santos Munoz III
Natalie Noble
Page Okwuosa
Florence O. Omoyeni
Tanya E. Peacock
Belinda A. Perez
Allen W. Pope
James L. Power Jr.
Randell R. Price
Bruce C. Reeves
Clifford Rhone
Barbara L. Rivera
Therita D. Robinson
Steven D. Roskey
Robert J. Scampitilla
Craig A. Schmidt
Michelle D. Sellers
Lance L. Slack
Kristen M. Smith
J.M. Stevenson
George L. Tanyingu
Javier Villasana
David S. Williams
April 2025
Adrian A. Amonett
Robert D. Armour
Jerry W. Barrett
Elena L. Bonilla
Christopher Burns
Harold W. Cleckler
Latonda W. Coleman
Roshawn B. Davis
Juan R. DelaRosa
John C. Dobbins Jr.
Gina M. Dockery
Christopher D. Doyle
Julie A. Duby
Robert G. Flores
Romel Gamayo
Velvia V. Hargrove
Charles L. Haynes Jr.
Gail A. Henderson
Margie A. Henley
Christopher C. Hernandez
Donna R. Hollingswood
Scott A. Imhoff
Brenda K. Irlas
John C. Johnson
Elwanda E. Jones
Larry E. Kile
Robert L. Kimbro Jr.
Melissa A. Kimbrough
James E. Marsh Jr.
Hugo G. Maya Jr.
James K. McKethan
Cherie L. Mitchell
Lori R. Mitchell
Jane W. Mugo
Cheryl M. Myers
Amye M. Neeley
Daryn W. Nicholson
Oliver E. Nnopu
Cecilia A. Omojola
Robert C. Pearson
Charles R. Petty Jr.
Shannon T. Qualls
Maria D. Ramirez
Chelice D. Randall
Shirley A. Salley
John P. Schwarz
Marilyn Slack
Daniel L. Sullivan
Judy C. Sullivan-Fitch
Jamie L. Taylor
Santos R. Treviño Jr.
Jose M. Valdez
Shannon D. Ware
Edna S. Williams
Jennifer J. Williams
Kevin M. Willis
Bret M. Youngblood
Deanna M. Zaiontzmadsen
May 2025
Tawakalitu T. Ajenifuja
Sylvia L. Alvarado
Lawrence M. Alvarez
Gerardo Arranaga
Jimmy D. Bagby
Tahara C. Balque
Rachel Brooks
Laura B. Brown
Orkeshia L. Buchanan
Angelia D. Bundage
Tommy C. Cates
Jason M. Combs
Anissa E. Commander
Cortez D. Crist
Byron R. Eldridge
Graciela G. Enriquez
Robert A. Fitzgerald Jr.
Theodule N. Foncha
Victor C. Gates
Jason P. Giorgi
David R. Gonzales
Clinton M. Gunnels
Denise A. Henry
Mark R. Hernandez
Christopher M. Hobbs
Russell D. Jennings
Joseph P. Kurian
Keice L. Landry
Kent Lucas
Betty A. Martinez
Monica R. Martinez
Amber D. McCharen
Angela McQueen
Kathy L. Mosley
Donald H. Mullen
Gabriella Olachia
Sharon A. Pannell Harris
Samuel J. Perez
Theresa A. Phillips
Suresh Pillai
Shirley M. Robinson
Bertha L. Samuel
William R. Schoenduby
Lela J. Smith
Debra S. Spinney
Hamlin T. Stanaland Iii
Patricia A. Stout
Catherine H. Tipton
Richard G. Torres
Deloris F. Traylor
Robert E. White III
Quentin W. Winston
Matthew A. Wise
June 2025
La Vonda P. Aaron
Janet A. Adamolekun
Christiana A. Akintode
Kristi D. Alexander
Joe Alsides
Kim I. Anthony
Donella D. Ayers
Rosa L. Balencia
Rebecca A. Bass
Greg A. Batesla
Rondalina L. Beatty
Ladonya R. Bell
Timothy G. Campbell
Alfreda D. Carreon
Paulette D. Como
Christopher L. Crase
Marla R. Demarest
Angela M. Diaz
Rosa R. Emerson
Doroteo Fonseca III
Mark Harmon
Debra A. Hays
Joseph S. Hodge
Debra R. Hufford
Tita I. Huntress
Christie P. Idlebird
Lashundrea P. Jefferson
Edward F. Kolenovsky Jr.
Canton S. Laufou
Tiffany M. Mason
Gregory P. McWaters
Lawrence A. Osuntuyi
Elizabeth F. Oyetunji
Melinda M. Ozuna
Neva L. Petty
Anthony Ramirez
Ruben S. Ramirez
Bellarmin Remezo
George Reyes Jr.
Ysidro A. Rodriguez
Katheryn V. Singleton
Sharalyn Y. Singleton
Deborah A. Stevenson
Lorri L. Vickers
Terry S. Vinson
Debra A. Webb
Earl C. Wheeland III
Tamika M. Williams
Beatric Yanez
Ernest R. Yarbrough