Wednesday, 4/24/2024

**All Courses will be held in the Lower Conference Center**

"Those That Broke The Mold: Personal Testimonies" | 8:00 - 10:00

Description:

In the world of corrections, we often see the recidivism rate never change in our county jails. But one thing we do see is the impact we can make on a few people’s lives. As Programs, we work to equip others for success, and we have the privilege of hearing from a few of these people that have broken the mold. They chose not to be part of the recidivism rate and got to work on their lives. We will hear their stories and celebrate their successes.

Presenters: Facilitated by Dakota County

Joshua Fuss has been in and out of group homes and incarceration since the age of 12. 10 years of that incarceration were spent in the MNDOC. His current work history includes: Housing and Marketing Director for a TX Center; CPRS/CPRS-R/CPRS-S for Refocus Recovery; and his current role of a Partner Success Manager for Kyros. He is also the owner of a sober home located in Minneapolis. The programs that helped him break the mold include the Inmates Motivated to Change (IMC) program at the Dakota County Jail, the RCCS program, and the Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) program.

Brandon Lawson feels that being the child of an alcoholic with substance abuse issues is probably the root because it leads to foster systems and constantly moving from one place to another. He writes: My disease is the nexus to my constant involvement in CJS. Self-medication for the trauma and never addressing the issue also contributed to the cycle. I always spent a great deal of time while in the system investigating the neuroscience behind addiction to better understand my opponent. Chaplain services played a key role in helping me address the disease which I believe is a spiritual condition. MJTP allowed me to attend treatment for the 1st time at age 35 and it was amazing. IMC was 1st and then New Beginnings along with MRT gave me the tools to really attack this disease head on. I believe the key moments were times when I was shown love and respect when I didn't feel worthy of it. Grace has always been something that has had an everlasting effect on me. Near death experiences played a role but never have done for me what kindness and mercy have.

Today I am heavily involved with service work and am almost five years clean. I am an eternally grateful human being who knows not only the significance of my own effort in all this but the vital role jail programs play in mending a broken soul. At my weakest and most vulnerable moment, I was given grace, mercy, and love. For that I am forever grateful. There isn't much I wish could or should have been shared during incarcerations because I have been in prisons and jails where your rehabilitation and existence doesn't matter, and survival is a physical one (not just a mental or spiritual one). I hope and pray that the divide between all law enforcement, jail staff, inmates and addicts can be eliminated,because we are all fighting the same battle. Our cooperation and development of relationships is the only way we can defeat this enigma.

Heather Young

"Liability Issues" | 10:15 - 11:45

Description:

MCIT will discuss some of the loss leaders and/or increasing exposures for Sheriff’s Offices in the areas of Worker’s Compensation and Property Casualty. It will also provide resources that may be useful in managing those risks.

Presenter:

Jason Hiveley is a Partner with Iverson Reuvers Condon and has been with the firm since 2003. He practices in the defense of municipal liability claims, civil rights lawsuits and commercial litigation. Jason has handled numerous jury trials in State and Federal Court and has argued several times before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also conducts training seminars for law enforcement agencies across the state.

"Prison Yoga Project" | 1:00 - 2:00

Description:

Prison Yoga Project envisions a cultural-shift toward a healing-centered approach to addressing crime, substance use disorder, and mental health disorders. Their mission is to provide programs for incarcerated individuals for rehabilitation and resilience rooted in yoga and embodied mindfulness. They offer programming throughout the world, by means of volunteers working in different environments such as maximum security prisons, mental health hospitals, and chemical dependency treatment centers. Prison YogaProject also trains volunteers on trauma-informed approaches to facilitating yoga and mindfulness practices.

Presenters: Briana Griener and Retired Federal Judge Victor Reyes

Briana Griener has been a correctional officer with the Clay County Correctional Facility since 2016. In 2019, she was hired as the RAP (Re-integration Advanced Planning) officer. When she started RAP, it was really starting at ground zero, as the previous individuals hired in this position had been cut short due to staffing, overcrowding concerns,and the construction of a new facility. After a few years of obtaining an understanding of the way correctional officers can impact incarcerated individuals on a positive level, she wanted to learn more about how to give back to the inmate population. In 2022, Briana found the Prison Yoga Project and imagined learning more about the practice and how to facilitate a program within the Clay County Correctional Facility. After some planning and proposing how to obtain a certification in trauma-informed yoga, she was ultimately approved and signed up for the Yoga Teaching Training offered by Prison Yoga Project in June of 2023, completing the course in October of 2023. Since being certified, Briana now facilitates classes with both men and women incarcerated within the Clay County Correctional Facility on a weekly basis, as her schedule permits.

Retired Federal Judge Victor Reyes served as a District Judge from January 1999, through December 31, 2014, in the 10th Judicial District located in Pueblo, Colorado. Before his appointment, Judge Reyes worked as a Deputy Public Defender for 15 years. He is a graduate of Emory University and Georgetown University Law Center.Since 2002, Judge Reyes has facilitated international and nationwide trainings to a variety of groups and organizations on issues related to mindfulness, every aspect related to domestic violence, the effects of secondary trauma on judicial officers, compassion in the courtroom and compassionate judicial leadership. He has trained Judges in judicial well-being and judicial integrity webinars sponsored by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Judge Reyes has trained judges from Australia, Costa Rica, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine and across the United States along with others on the issue of well-being and tools to increase resilience.From October of 2021 through January of 2023, Judge Reyes was involved with the Judicial Wellness Initiative, specifically hosting the Monday Morning Moments Wellness webinars along with leading wellness sessions at conferences and a judicial retreat held in California. He has written and presented on Compassionate Leadership, Engaged Justice, Access to Justice and Implied Bias.

Judge Reyes facilitates discussions and presents keynote speeches on issues related to human thriving, self-respect, and self-compassion for several organizations around the world.at the Youth Offender System, facilitates a weekly life skills session for incarcerated people and yoga at La Vista Correctional Facility-Colorado Department of Corrections. He also leads yoga/mindfulness classes and the Federal Bureau of Prisons-Camp, STAGES Program at United States Penitentiary in Florence and ADMAX (Supermax) as well as several venues in Pueblo. He has provided Mindfulness training for the Nevada Dental Association, the Pueblo Fire Department and Fountain of Health Yoga Studio. Judge Reyes is certified in Life Coaching and Master Life Coaching.

"Programmer to Programmer" | 2:15 - 4:30

Description:

During this session, jail programmers will share some of the programming that is currently underway in their facilities. You will hear examples of successful programs already in place, as well as the problems to avoid when implementing a new program. Other topics may include volunteer recruitment/recognition, recreation, and release planning for detainees. This is a great time to meet fellow programmers while providing the opportunity to network with them at the beginning of the conference.