The revised procedures define the appropriate response to emergency codes and outline the responsibilities of the employee during such emergencies as fights, riots, fires and medical situations. The amended procedures utilize an initial Emergency Response Team as well as a Secondary Response Team.

The training initiative focused on such areas as the proper donning of riot gear, violent restraint chair procedures and handcuffing technique refreshers. According to Bayside administrative staff, the training proved effective in large part because it prepared staff for consistent and uniform responses to emergency situations. Ultimately, the procedures and training are designed to result in the reduced possibility of injury to personnel who respond to emergencies and the ability to maintain security in the unaffected areas of the prison.

Hall's Designs Are in the Cards
Erica Hall, a former intern in the Office of Education at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility and daughter of Garden State staff member John Hall, has received special recognition in her capacity as a graphic designer with the Hallmark Corporation, the internationally known greeting card conglomerate.

Hall is about to be featured with her own designed cards, which will include her photograph on the back panel of each card. Hallmark has not previously done this with any of its employees.

While enrolled at Temple University, where she studied graphic arts, Hall spent her summers and holiday breaks working at Garden State. Specifically, she taught offenders many of the graphic arts techniques she learned in school.

On the Wings of Love
The winter chill failed to harden the hearts of a pair of Northern State Prison employees.

The saga began to unfold when Wanda Carrero-Lorenzo, a program development specialist at the Newark prison, noticed a seagull stuck in a sheet of ice in front of the facility's Administrative Complex. She immediately notified Executive Assistant Frank Pedalino, and the two collaborated on a rescue plan.

Minutes later, Pedalino, armed with a shovel, managed to break the ice, but the seagull, shaking and clearly ailing, barely moved. Pedalino then placed in the bird in a warm box and received permission from Northern Administrator Lydell Sherrer to contact Animal Control, which arrived on the scene and transported the seagull to the Humane Society.

Thanks to a follow-up telephone call, Pedalino learned that x-rays were negative, and the bird was suffering from shock. The next stop for the seagull was the Raptor Rehabilitation Center for treatment.

Now that winter has turned into spring, the "patient" literally owes his life to warm-hearted members of the Northern staff.

Engle Institute Selects Bayside Chaplain
The Joe R. Engle Institute of Preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary has chosen Rev. Rina Terry of Bayside State Prison as an Engle Fellow for 2006. Rev. Terry will conduct independent research and participate in seminars and workshops designed promote continued excellence in preaching.

NJDOC Donates Coats, Toys to Needy
Recognizing that many New Jersey families have difficulty providing adequately for loved ones, particularly during the holiday season, the New Jersey Department of Corrections took part in coat and toy drives to help New Jersey's most needy citizens.

NJDOC staff members donated 776 winter coats to the Governor's Coat Drive, including a whopping 246 from Northern State Prison, 78 from the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center and 58 from the Central Assignment and Reception Facility.

The department also collected more than 1,100 toys for the Gifts for Kids project. Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women led the way with 188 toys, followed by ADTC with 144 and Mid-State Correctional Facility with 139. The gifts were given to needy children all over New Jersey in time for the holidays through the Department of Human Services' Division of Youth and Family Services.

Dawn Franks, who coordinated both of the charitable projects on behalf of the NJDOC, credited the coordinators at the various institutions for helping the endeavors to operate as smoothly as possible.

"So many of our employees are committed to these projects," she said. "It's great to see people come together for such worthwhile causes. It makes everyone who participates feel good."

Office of Training Assists in 'Turning Lives Around'
Each year, instead of exchanging holiday gifts, staff members of the Correctional Staff Training Academy provide assistance to a selected non-profit organization. In keeping with the Office of Training's efforts to work toward the prevention of domestic violence, the 2005 charity of choice was 180-Turning Lives Around, a Monmouth County organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

A few years ago, the Office of Training was tasked with developing a program to eradicate domestic violence among New Jersey Department of Correction employees. That program was highlighted during a presentation before an international audience at the 16th World Congress of Criminology, which was held in August 2005 at the University of Pennsylvania.

"This initiative gave the Office of Training the ability the ability to take the prevention of domestic violence program beyond the facility and into our communities," said Lt. Matthew Kyle. "It seemed only fitting for the Correctional Staff Training Academy to choose 180-Turning Lives Around as the organization for our charitable donations."

Employees of Month Are Chosen
Sgt. William Brennan was selected as the Employee of the Month for March at the Central Reception and Assignment Facility. Other CRAF employees who have received similar recognition in 2006 are technical assistant Lisa Shumard (February) and Senior Correction Officer John Laffan (January).

Sgt. Henry Bussey was named Supervisor of the Month for April at Northern State Prison. The facility's Custody Employee of the Month was Senior Correction Officer Marisol Valentin, while Diane Doran, technical assistant, Management Information Systems, was the Civilian Employee of the Month. Northern's winners for March were Unit Supervisor/Hearing Officer Gregory Embley (supervisor), SCO Monica Davis (custody) and clerk typist Pedro Medeiros (civilian). February winners were Chaplain Abbas Musa (supervisor), SCO James Samuel (custody) and personnel assistant Cynthia Arrington (civilian). In January, winners were Lt. Charles Leary (supervisor), SCO Melody Brinson (custody) and communications operator Yolanda Colson (civilian).

The Office of Training Employees of the Month for April were principal clerk typist Lucretia Mauro and Senior Correction Officer Clay McClain. In March the selections were senior clerk typist Paulette Kotomski and SCO Eduardo Mendez. February winners were senior clerk Robert Decker and SCO Gary Barton. January honorees were head clerk Adriann Errickson and SCO John Humphries.