N.C. Department of Correction--Correction News--November 1997

Department of Correction Employees Honored by Governor Hunt

Raleigh - Three DOC employees were praised by Gov. Jim Hunt during the annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence program Oct. 15.

Carol Caldwell, John Taylor and Brent Parker were congratulated during a special ceremony in the Executive Mansion honoring 1996 winners. DOC had more winners than any other department. Gov. Hunt thanked the winners for their dedication and outstanding service to state government.

Secretary Jarvis, Officer Parker, Commandant Taylor,
Warden Caldwell and Governor Hunt

The following is a short bio on each of the winners:

Carol Caldwell is warden at N.C. Correctional Institution for Women where the inmate population has grown in five years from 650 to 1,150. This dramatic increase has placed a great deal of stress on daily operations. Caldwell has directed a variety of creative strategies to face this daily crisis. The growth demand has occurred simultaneously with massive con-struction and significant increases in staff and budget.

Caldwell’s greatest contribution to DOC can be seen in her integrity, dedication and professionalism. She always shows a sense of fairness to both staff and inmates.

Caldwell helped develop two unique programs, a travel and tourism toll-free phone program and the Mothers and Their Children, or MATCH program. Caldwell has coordinated the efforts of several state agencies to develop a toll-free reservation system for state govern-ment. She also implemented the nationally-recognized parenting pro-gram, MATCH, which allows in-mates to have structured, super-vised visits with their children at the prison.

John Taylor is the commandant of the IMPACT bootcamp program. Taylor founded and developed North Carolina’s two bootcamps to instill self-confidence, discipline and the work ethic in young offenders. To date, more than 3,500 trainees have been influenced by Taylor’s leadership and hard work. Thanks to Taylor and his staff, young men who once had no self respect or direction in life have changed and are making a new start.

One of Taylor’s objectives was to provide a way for young offenders to give back to the community while providing a strong work ethic for them. Work projects for surrounding communities have exceeded one-and-a-quarter million hours with an estimated savings to North Carolina citizens of $4 million. Taylor is indirectly responsible for the edu-cation of more than 500 young men who earned their GED while going through IMPACT.

In an outstanding display of leadership and creativity, Taylor implemented a policy where trainees would pay for medical care with extra duty work. Local communities have benefited from trainees cutting down trees and making firewood. This program has helped keep 131 families, mostly elderly citizens, warm during winter weather.

Brent Parker is a correctional officer at Columbus Correctional Institution. Parker battled through flames and smoke in an effort to rescue Edith Bass, a car accident victim who was pinned inside her burning vehicle, screaming for help.

Parker was the first person on the scene. Because it was a life or death situation, Parker first tried to break the car windows with his fist. He tried the car doors but they were jammed shut. With smoke pouring from the vehicle and flames from underneath the car slipping through the smashed floorboard, Parker jumped onto the roof of the car. He ripped the sunroof from its mounting and, with the help of a bystander, pulled Bass through the narrow opening. The entire car became fully engulfed in flames only seconds after Parker carried Bass to safety. She was flown to N.C. Burn Center in Chapel Hill to receive treatment for third degree burns covering half of her body. Parker continues to check on Bass as she recovers.

NC DOC Correction News- November 1997
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