Adult Institutions Updates

Earl Dye Named Deputy Division Director

Earl Dye has been named Division of Adult Institutions Deputy Director for Zone III, effective Feb. 12, 2024. Dye began his career in Missouri state government in 2007 as an investigator II with the Inspector General’s Office, later promoting to investigator III. In 2018, Dye became manager of the Employee Conduct Unit in the Office of Professional Standards. He has experience working with all Department of Corrections facilities statewide and has worked with teams throughout the department. Before joining Missouri state government, Dye served as a police officer for the City of Columbia. Dye holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University and is a graduate of the University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Institute. He brings a wealth of knowledge of the law, legal codes, court procedures and government regulations to his new position.

Zone Realignment

Zones within the Division of Adult Institutions have been realigned with the appointment of new deputy division directors. Effective March 4, 2024, Deputy Division Director Ryan Crews oversees Zone I, Deputy Division Director Jason Lewis oversees Zone II, Deputy Division Director Earl Dye oversees Zone III, and Deputy Division Director Lori Lewis oversees human resources for the division.

Assistant Division Director Melissa Scheulen directly supervises the Central Transfer Authority (CTA), the Grievance team and the Central Transportation Unit. Assistant Division Director Rick Skaggs directly supervises Quality Control, Religious & Spiritual Programming, Corrections Records Technician and Library Services.

February 2024 Employee of the Month

Carl Beason, a captain at Ozark Correctional Center (OCC), has been named employee of the month for February 2024. Beason is known for acting swiftly and decisively to keep his facility and the community safe. When a security incident occurred at OCC, Beason immediately sprang into action. He established a command center in the control room. He gathered staff and delegated tasks for them to complete. He also compiled essential information for rapid dissemination to state and local law enforcement. Throughout the incident, Beason maintained a calm demeanor and a clear head, helping to keep his team on task and to ensure a good outcome. Thanks to his professionalism and his composure, the incident was quickly resolved and OCC residents and staff were kept safe.

Crossroads Champs

Dog Team Helps Locate Missing Teen

When a 15-year-old girl disappeared after school in DeKalb County last month, the Crossroads Correctional Center (CRCC) dog team joined forces with the DeKalb County fire and EMS units, the Daviess County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Cameron Police Department to find her. After a 20-hour search, the teenager was found unharmed and returned home.

Lifesavers

St. Joseph Staff Earn Awards

Western Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center (WRDCC) staff members recently were honored with the Lifesaver Award, an honor bestowed on team members who take lifesaving measures in critical incidents, medical situations and other emergencies to prevent loss of life. Congratulations to Troy McCarthy, Nora Jones, Kaitlyn Case, Jessica Brewer and Shawn Noland.

Support for Life

Chillicothe, Fulton Teams Help Families of Fallen Officers

Chillicothe Correctional Center (CCC) and Fulton Reception & Diagnostic Center (FRDC) have joined Southeast Correctional Center (SECC) and Northeast Correctional Center (NECC) as lifetime sponsors of the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF), a national non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting the surviving families of correctional officers who lose their lives in in the line of duty. Lifetime facility sponsorship is reserved for institutions donating $5,000 or more to CPOF to help fund familial support and assistance, catastrophic assistance, a scholarship program, and other help for officers and their families. Last year Missouri hosted the national meeting of CPOF's Project 2000, and the Missouri Department of Corrections Honor Guard represented the department in St. Louis.

Cold for a Cause

Polar Plunge Participants Support Special Olympics

Polar Plunge season is underway! Corrections team members throughout the state have been dipping into icy waters throughout February and March at fundraising events organized to help support Special Olympics Missouri. Events have been held in Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Lake Saint Louis, Chillicothe, Lake of the Ozarks, Maryland Heights, St. Joseph, Kirksville and Springfield, with another planned for Columbia in March. Last year Special Olympics raised nearly $900,000 with 11 plunges throughout the state. Stay tuned for 2024 totals — and to find out how corrections teams fared against our chilly competitors. Take a sneak peek at pics from Chillicothe Correctional Center and Boonville Correctional Center on Facebook.

Giving Back. Giving Blood.

Corrections Teams Host Blood Drives

Last month corrections teams rolled up their sleeves in support of Red Cross Missouri. Employee health nurses coordinated drives to collect livesaving blood donations for fellow Missourians. At Tipton Correctional Center (TCC), 26 participants gave 18 units of blood. Potosi Correctional Center (PCC) staff gave 27 units of blood, surpassing their 24-unit goal.

To volunteer or find a donation location near you, visit redcross.org/local/missouri.html.

Scholarship Season

Correctional Leaders Association Offers Scholarships for Children of Staff

Applications are now open for the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship, a $1,500 award for children of full-time corrections employees with CLA-member departments of corrections, including the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Eligibility Requirements:  Student must be the child of a full-time corrections employee (current, retired or deceased) within any CLA-member department of corrections or jail/prison system.  Incoming first-time freshmen, along with enrolled full-time undergraduate and graduate students, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. Student may be working toward a degree in any area of study.   Student must be enrolled full time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or an accredited graduate program. This award is for the children of corrections staff only. Corrections employees, vendor employees and employees' siblings, spouses and grandchildren are not eligible.  For 2024, awarded scholarship amounts will be $1,500 for new undergraduate and graduate students and $1,000 for returning students who received a $1,500 scholarship previously.  Apply by March 31, 2024.

Referral Incentive Program

The State of Missouri has launched a new Statewide Employee Referral Program that offers financial incentives to current employees for successful referrals of new hires in state government positions. The Missouri Department of Corrections has discontinued our previous departmental referral incentive program.

If you sign up for the new program, you will be eligible to receive an incentive when you successfully refer a job candidate to any full-time, benefit-eligible position in any of 15 executive branch departments, including corrections. This means you can earn $250 for each person you refer to any of these agencies, or $500 for a referral to a hard-to-fill position. Register on MO Careers to receive a unique referral key. Provide your key to candidates you refer for jobs. Find instructions on the Office of Administration’s website.

Department of Corrections team members in all active employment types are eligible to receive a referral incentive, with a few positions excluded, including recruiters, personnel staff, section heads, deputy and assistant division directors, and managers at the rank of major, unit supervisor, associate superintendent and higher.

For more information about the program, visit HireMOTalent.mo.gov. Questions may be routed through your worksite personnel office or emailed to MOCareersHelp@oa.mo.gov.

Putting People First

Expanded Resources for Staff

The Employee Health, Wellness and Safety Unit in the Division of Human Services (DHS) has been growing. The unit has integrated new positions and staff into the team to better provide you with the support and resources you need.

Employee Support Specialists Employee Resources Specialists make referrals to help employees meet practical needs (transportation, childcare, food, etc.) and get support with life challenges (stress, personal concerns, etc.) Employee Trauma Response Team Crisis Care Licensed behavioral health professionals give professional assistance in crisis situations, offer critical-incident outreach and provide mental health interventions Peer Action Care Team (PACT) Peer Support Trained corrections team members provide emotional support during crisis or stress

Human Resource Specialists Personnel Matters On-site specialists oversee employee pay, leave, benefits, onboarding, training, career coaching and more Wellness Program Overall Wellbeing Wellness staff organize wellness challenges and events, connect staff to resources, and update worksite amenities Employee Health Nurses Physical Health Licensed nurses provide health screenings, immunizations, first aid and wellness education Need help? Don't hesitate to contact the team at work worksite.

Graduation Glory

New Programs Prep Missourians for Post-Release Careers

Thanks to the hard work of our staff, residents of adult institutions and transition centers have collected a slew of new academic degrees, professional certifications and apprenticeships in recent months.

Chillicothe Correctional Center and Missouri State University-West Plains

The first group of Missouri State University-West Plains students at Chillicothe Correctional Center (CCC) graduated with associate’s degrees in agriculture. MSU accepted vocational education professional gardening completion as credit toward the academic degree program, integrating the work of corrections educators and courses into their program. The seven scholars completed the program with aid from staff and support from peers. "We all stood by each other and helped each other, no matter how hard it got," graduate Christina White said. "Even when I wanted to quit, I had the girls to push me through like ‘You can do this.’ They got me through it.” See all the photos on Facebook »

Southeast Correctional Center, Boonville Correctional Center and Aramark

With support from staff, the first classes of trainees have graduated from the IN2WORK apprenticeship program through Aramark Correctional Services. Eight Southeast Correctional Center (SECC) residents and four Boonville Correctional Center (BCC) residents completed the three-phase classroom-learning and hands-on-training curriculum, earning National Restaurant Association certifications and gaining skills they can use in food service careers. Aramark became the department's food service provider in 2023, bringing resident meal service, staff cafes and vocational training opportunities to Department of Corrections facilities.

Transition Center of Kansas City and KC Can Compost

Through a partnership with KC Can Compost, 10 men on probation or parole living at the Transition Center of Kansas City (TCKC) recently completed Green Core Training and now are recognized as environmental specialists by the U.S. Department of Labor. The team also helped a 2023 graduate land a job he loves at Missouri Organic Recycling. Green job training helps formerly incarcerated people launch careers while supporting the environment. More »

Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center and Washington University

The first group of students at Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center (WERDCC) has graduated from a Washington University in St. Louis Prison Education Project degree program. Five incarcerated students earned associate's degrees last semester. One has been released, and her classmates already have embarked on a bachelor's degree program. Thank you to the corrections education staff who support higher education in Missouri prisons.

Preparing for Microsoft 365

Microsoft Applications Migration Begins

The ITSD Microsoft project team is in the process of migrating the current Microsoft experience to Microsoft 365 (M365) as part of our DGT Initiative portfolio of projects. When will I see changes? Due to the scope of this upgrade, the state is conducting a phased implementation. Migration schedules were carefully planned to account for each agency's unique needs. The deployment and migration process began in October 2023 and continues through October 2024. What does this mean for me? Microsoft Applications (e.g. Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) will be upgraded, offering greater functionality. The Microsoft Exchange migration will consist of moving your Outlook data (emails, meetings, etc.). After the migration, you will access Microsoft applications differently and even more seamlessly.

What happens next?

Approximately one month before any changes occur for you, you will begin receiving communications through email and other channels. These communications will contain key details such as pre-migration tasks, how to log in after migration, and where to get help if needed.

How do I learn more?

Learn about your new tools on the M365 Hub at Microsoft 365 Hub - Home (state.mo.us). Also, watch your email for project announcements and next steps to prepare you for implementation.

Thank you for supporting the changes underway. The Digital Government Transformation (DGT) Initiative will strengthen the services we provide to each other, citizens, and businesses.

P&P Publication

Get the Latest from Probation & Parole

The Division of Probation & Parole newsletter, P&P Insider, is published quarterly. Look for programming highlights, Reentry 2030 updates, professional development opportunities and more — plus special sections with news about what's happening in each P&P region of the state. Check out the winter 2024 issue »

Corrections Way Ambassadors

Corrections Way ambassadors serve a vital role in supporting The Corrections Way (TCW), a foundation of conduct and communication built around a core of common values guiding our work. Ambassadors steer fellow staff to resources and answer questions about Corrections Way training, practice and initiatives. They keep TCW at the forefront at sites across the state. They facilitate TCW workshops, conduct leadership walks, create TCW bulletin boards, assist with planning for quality conversations, de-escalate staff tensions, send motivational emails, create TCW newsletters, and assist with planning fun activities that build morale. They are a dedicated group of people who want to create a working environment where everyone belongs —  an environment built on trust, respect and rapport!

Ambassador Spotlight

Crossroads Correctional Center

The Crossroads Correctional Center (CRCC) Corrections Way team has been spreading positive vibes in Northwest Missouri. In recent months, the team has created sidewalk-chalk motivational messages both inside and outside the institution, held a Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest, offered Pictures with Santa for all staff and their families, and held a holiday door decorating contest. They facilitated a scavenger hunt during Corrections Week. The team also produces The Crossing, a quarterly TCW newsletter. 

The group has grown recently, almost doubling. With the influx of new Influencers and Ambassadors, they have started offering Skillups for targeted groups, such as sergeants, lieutenants and captains or staff in a particular housing unit. They also offer monthly Skillups at regular CORE trainings and send welcome emails to new hires and weekly motivational quotes to all staff. The team is dedicated to extending a helping hand to fellow staff and appreciates the benefits of staying positive in a challenging environment. 

CRCC TCW members include: Tracy Dixon, Crystal Burnett, Chris Brownlee, Robert Duly, Crystal Francis, Robert Duly, Stephony Hoppe, Eric Portiner, Amanda Spears, Tommy Cain, Raechel Kelley, Brandon Norton and Sarah Morris.

The state’s business cycle runs on a fiscal year timeframe, this year from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024 (FY 2024). Each year we articulate our priorities to support better government in Missouri through our strategic plan. In fiscal year 2024, our mission and our goals remain constant, but our strategic initiatives continue to evolve. We are building on past years' success and adding new priorities.

Take a look at our current strategic initiatives »

Mission

Improving Lives for Safer Communities

Vision

Excellence in Corrections for a Safer Missouri

Values

We value safe work environments, a capable workforce and reduced risk and recidivism.
We value integrity and respect.
We value supportive leadership.
We value employee participation and teamwork.

Staff News

• Staff newsletters
• Videos for staff
• Facility news
• Contact us

Build Rapport with Coworkers

We're working hard to recruit and retain staff and to make the Missouri Department of Corrections a great place to work. Teamwork is essential to everything we do. It helps ensure safety. It makes us stronger. It even brings a little more fun to our daily jobs. YOU CAN BUILD RAPPORT. Listen to your coworkers, and show empathy. Share ideas, and collaborate on projects. Work together to solve problems and resolve conflicts.