Awards of Excellence

In keeping with the mission of the organization, IACTP seeks to enhance public safety and fair and humane treatment of offenders by promoting organizational and individual excellence in the profession of correctional training.  The IACTP’s Awards of Excellence Program strives to identify and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and programs in the field of criminal justice training but to achieve this goal we need your help!  Truly exceptional training programs are difficult to accomplish and as a training professional you know what should or should not be recognized and rewarded.

Submit your nomination for the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel’s Awards of Excellence.  IACTP would like to recognize excellence in correctional training in the following categories at the next IACTP Annual Trainers’ Conference. Links for online award nominations can be found at the bottom of this page.

Trainer of the Year Award – given to exemplary trainers in the field of Corrections as recognized by their leadership and their trainees.

Specialized Topics Award – given for high quality training in a particular course, program or subject.

Innovation Approaches Award – given for high quality training which advances the state of the art in correctional training.

Training System Award – given for high quality training throughout an entire system or training department.

Commercial Program Award – given for a high quality training offered by a commercial vendor.

President’s Program Award – given by IACTP President to acknowledge exemplary service to the organization

2019 Award Winners are…

Trainer of the Year Award

Given to an individual who has made contributions in training Corrections professionals by providing exemplary training that surpassed the organization’s guidelines while meeting personalized learning strategies for trainees.

2019 Recipient: Ashley Kerr, Training Officer, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

In recognition of Ashley’s exemplary service as recognized by leadership in her agency as well as superior feedback and evaluation results from trainees. Students have the following to say about Ashley:

“Full of wisdom and very motivating”

“Thank you, Ashley, for getting me through a rough time while I was at CTA”

“Ashley provided clear direction as she guided me through firearms qualification. I was very nervous, and she helped me get through.”

“Goes above and beyond to make sure we understand and can do everything we need

to do in order to be good CO’s”

“The most caring instructor I’ve ever had”

Agency leadership have said that Ashley:

• – excels in recognizing when students need additional assistance and adjusts her teaching accordingly.
• – accepts challenges with a positive attitude, as well as a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

• – excels in being a team player and displays strong leadership to her co-workers.

Specialized Topics Award

Given for high quality training in a particular course, program or subject.

2019 Recipient: Nebraska Department of Corrections CNT Program

In recognition of the high quality Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and the two-week training program that is now serving as a model for other states to create or reinvent their own CNT.

Innovation Approaches Award

Given for high quality training which advances the state of the art in correctional training.
2019 Recipient: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

In recognition of a Corrections Certification for vocational students in high school. Developed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education, this program is aimed at recruiting and hiring highly trained and qualified high school graduates. Completion of the certification program enables high school students to complete the ODRC new employee orientation training curricula, participate in the correction officer assessment exam, complete the Ohio Civil Service application, complete the interview process, begin the background check and receive a conditional offer to be hired upon high school graduation. This training program is aimed at helping our facilities recruit motivated, trained and committed corrections staff.

Training System Award

Given for high quality training throughout an entire system or training department.
2019 Recipient: Licking County (OH) Sheriff’s Office

In recognition of their FTO, Mentor, and LEAD Program, which address the different generations in today’s workforce and strives to teach the job and the environment to each employee on an individual learning plan, instead of the cookie cutter way things were traditionally done. The purpose is to keep good employees, have them be successful, and also to foster an environment to grow the next generation of leaders.

Commercial Program Award

Given for a high quality training offered by a commercial vendor.

2019 Recipient: The Carden Group

In recognition of Chad Carden’s work to implement a culture change in the Missouri Department of Corrections through a comprehensive training program titled “The Corrections Way,” which promotes open communication, trust, rapport, and respect through all levels of staffing.

President’s Award

Given by the IACTP President in recognize of exemplary service to the IACTP organization.

2019 Recipient: Angie Newhouse

As IACTP Treasurer for several years and as host of the 2015 IACTP national conference held in Maine, Angie has provided steady and consistent leadership, which has enabled IACTP to grow stronger and to be more sustainable.