Stephanie Williams named Correctional Officer of the Year

Michael F. Easley Governor		Theodis Beck Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Pamela Walker
Date: May 4, 2005	Phone: (919) 716-3700

Stephanie Williams named Correctional Officer of the Year APEX - Stephanie Williams, a correctional sergeant at Orange Correctional Center, was recognized today by the North Carolina Division of Prisons as one of 11 Correctional Officers of the Year. Williams is a fifteen-year veteran of the Department of Correction. She is currently the first shift officer-in-charge at Orange Correctional Center and manages the prison’s daily operations. She is credited with the effectively implementing the department’s new inmate visitation system at Orange, ensuring that all visitor applications were processed and properly screened for security concerns. “While other staff members had been assigned to assist with the visitation conversion, Sgt. Williams made it her business to ensure that it was done promptly and correctly”, said prison superintendent Mike Thumm. Williams is also responsible for key control and handles unit disciplinary hearings when needed. Williams is a resident of Apex and a graduate of Pender High School and Hardbarger Junior College. Governor Michael F. Easley has declared May 2-6 as Correctional Officers Week in observance of the important public safety work done by more than 11,000 correctional officers in North Carolina’s 76 prisons. # # #