TDCJ News

27th Annual Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards

Decatur Woman Receives Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award

TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier, Joelle Cannon, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, and TBCJ Chairman Patrick O'Daniel (l-r).

(AUSTIN) – Joelle Cannon of Decatur, Texas was awarded the Chaplaincy Department Award during the Governor’s 2022 Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards program today.

The award was presented by Texas Board of Criminal Justice Chairman Patrick O’Daniel and TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier at a ceremony in Austin.

“These individuals have gone above and beyond in their volunteer efforts. No words or awards will be enough thanks for these individuals. We are grateful they decided to use their time and talents for good at TDCJ,” said O’Daniel.

“TDCJ and this state are better because of these award recipients. They are heroes who are making a profound and lasting impact on the lives of so many across the Lone Star State,” said Collier.

Ms. Cannon co-leads the Moses Project at the Bridgeport Unit where inmates are taught to manufacture baby beds, quilts, receiving blankets and bears for several Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Ms. Cannon comes in on a weekly basis to teach sewing, quilting and manufacturing skills to the men at the Bridgeport Unit. She helps them perfect their skills so that each item is made with excellence. She then distributes the beds and stuffed bears to the pregnancy centers. She is very hands on, working with every director monthly to deliver the beds and find out their currents needs at the centers. She is also active with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to organize and deliver “GO” bags, bears and quilts that the inmates have made as part of the Moses Project. In addition, she has also piloted the Toastmasters Program, teaching the inmates organizational and presentation skills while building their confidence along the way. With Ms. Cannon’s help, the inmates are being taught re-entry skills that translate into occupational skills in the community upon release.

Joelle Cannon is one of 17 individuals and 5 organizations from across the state recognized for their efforts to help inmates and those who are on parole or probation. They donate many hours of their personal time every year with the goal of changing the lives of convicted inmates, as well as aiding and comforting their victims.

In FY2021, there were 21,310 volunteers who provided a total of 47,290 hours of service.

Note to media: For more information, contact Robert Hurst at (936) 437-6052 or by e-mail at robert_hurst@tdcj.texas.gov.