A second chance

With an announcement the enrollment at the McCook Work Ethic Camp is continuing to grow, the importance of the people who staff the camp becomes more evident.

Raleigh Haas, superintendent at the 100-bed facility told Sen. Tom Baker Thursday enrollment is now at 80. The innovative corrections facility is expecting to reach its highest count of 87 on Monday.

During the meeting, Baker told Haas he was amazed by the impact of the public hearing in Lincoln on March 5 when several McCook residents and business leaders attended an legislative appropriations committee meeting to discourage the closing of the two-year-old facility.

"Someone must have alerted the judges they need to start sending people to WEC instead of prison," Baker told Haas.

One former offender at the camp, Kenneth Farr, who successfully completed the program in February, doesn't understand why the facility hasn't been at capacity from the start. In fact, he said, he doesn't understand why the state hasn't looked at building another one in the eastern part of the state.

Farr said much of his success can be attributed to the staff at WEC -- from the counselors who taught him new life skills, to the security personnel who watched his every move.

"People complained about the security, but the title says it all. They're not there to be your friends," he said. "They have jobs to do just like everyone else."

Leanne Miller is the woman in charge of human resources at the facility.

Not only does she oversee the personnel at the facility, but she is also the accreditation manager for the American Correctional Association.

As the administrative assistant to the department of human resources her position begins when a job opens at WEC. The first step in the hiring process begins when she sends a request to Lincoln to fill a position. She then constructs an advertisement, screens applications, sets up interviews and often sits in on the actual interview.

Miller said the interview process is very detail specific depending on the job needing to be filled.

For instance a person interviewed for a chemical dependency counselor might be asked specific questions regarding the 12-step program for chemical dependency or recognizing chemical dependency.

On the other hand, someone interviewing for a security position might be asked questions about dealing with medical or security emergencies.

"Since there's not a lot of security experience in Southwest Nebraska, we look for some one with old-fashioned common sense," she said. "We look for people with general knowledge of security, problem solving skills, and when available a background in corrections is always good."

Upon hiring, employees are required to participate in an extensive five-week training program in Lincoln. During those five weeks, new employees are taught such skills as pressure point tactics for self defense and CPR. They are also instructed on how to recognize substance abuse and write incident reports.

Once the five weeks of training are complete, the new employees return to McCook for on-the-job training.

To date, there are 74 employees at WEC and four new employees who have started their training in Lincoln.

Miller said that for the most part, the employees at the camp take their job very seriously. "Most people enjoy the work they do."

"I see a strong commitment to the offenders to help them change their thinking ... change their ways. We don't want to see anyone fail," she said.

In her position as manager for the American Correctional Association, Miller is responsible for ensuring the facility is following accreditation standards, including training employees in the process.

Prior to the actual audit by the national accreditation group, WEC will go through an internal audit by the Department of Corrections in May.

The process will look at everything from policy and procedure to fiscal budgets to offenders having access to bathrooms and showers, Miller said.

She said she is currently going over the different aspects to ensure the facility is meeting all standards.

As for the possibility the facility may be cut by the Nebraska Legislature, Miller said she is trying to remain optimistic.

"They have to realize how great a program it is." But said Miller, "I'm a bit of a realist, so I'm looking at other options. But my first is to stay here and stay in McCook," she said.