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By Christen Donley

Transition Coalitions take place throughout the state on revolving dates regularly. These meetings serve to bring together the greater reentry community of nonprofits, federal, state, and county agencies that all serve people leaving incarceration. Since COVID, these in person meetings all moved to a virtual space and although still impactful meetings, missing the in person connection that organically takes place when face to face.

Last Friday, on 8/11, we were able to gather at Great River Landing, the new location of 180 Degrees. Seventeen organizations from the Twin Cities set up tables and shared swag, flyers, and information about their individual services and programs with other organizations that attended. For the first time in over 3 years, we were able to connect with each other, shake hands, and make actual human connections that will serve to support the people we all want to see succeed once returned to the community.

It was a team effort. Commissioner, Paul Schnell, Kelley Heifort, Kate Erickson, JoAnn Brown, and the community stability team along with transition coordinators, behavioral health release planners, Employ, and O4C were all in attendance. We (MNDOC staff) were joined by about 75 individuals from community non profits.

The next in person Twin Cities Coalition will be hosted by Goodwill Easter Seals in St. Paul on October 13th from 9:30 - 11:30. You may sign up to attend here.

Supportive Housing for Men Exiting Prison - 180 Degrees | Turning Lives Around

Transition Coalition Meetings / Department of Corrections (mn.gov)

By Ashlee Berts

I want to recognize CCO John Kelly from Rush City for assisting Benton County with their K9 demonstration on August 4, 2023 at their county fair!

CCO Kelly was at the fair enjoying some family time when he was asked if he would be able to assist with their K9 demonstration due to some last minute changes leaving this task to only one person. CCO Kelly received permission to assist them and was able to demonstrate obedience, narcotics detection, and apprehensions with Benton County Deputy Kadlec.

It is estimated several hundred folks watched the demonstration with many staying for meet and greet afterwards. CCO Kelly used this time to talk about available positions with the DOC and even showed 4 people how to apply online with us!

Thank you for your dedication to the DOC and our community John.

By Dan Kuntz

MNIT is excited to announce Andrew Reed has been promoted to ISM, IT Operations Manager.

Andrew has been employed within the state of Minnesota since 2014. He began his career at MCF-Rush City as the Training Director where he was the champion of improving the efficiency to run training reports at the facilities. Andrew was also on the team that led the implementation of the new at the time Enterprise Learning Management tool across the DOC. Andrew then transferred to MCF-Lino Lakes to expand his knowledge of various facility operations. There he helped create the Youthful Offender online training and assisted with many more online trainings which are still being used today. In December of 2017, Andrew was promoted to Corrections Program Director at MCF-Stillwater where he supervised a variety of different locations including MSU, Warehouse, Canteen, Visiting, Records, Mailroom, Religious Services, Food Services, Segregation, Cell Hall D, and the Step-Down Management Program.

In 2021, Andrew came to MNIT as the Eastern Regional IT Supervisor (STW & OPH). In August of 2022, Andrew became the supervisor for the Infrastructure Management team as part of a reorganization. On August 16, 2023 Andrew was promoted to an Informations Systems Manager (ISM) into the role of IT Operations Manager. As the IT Operations Manager Andrew will be responsible for managing and leading local IT operations for the Department of Corrections, including technical and financial operations. This activity includes a broad range of technical provisioning and support activities, including Security, Infrastructure, Asset inventory and management, MNIT DOC Service desk, Business Relationship Management, and Facilities Projects (managing IT provisioning at DOC facilities and field service office locations).

Andrew is also an active member in the Minnesota National Guard where he holds the rank of Master Sergeant. He is currently stationed with the 34th Infantry Division Headquarters where he serves as the Electronic Warfare Non-Commissioned Officer In-Charge for the state of Minnesota. Andrew has served in the military since 2005 and has been deployed three different times and has travelled across the middle east including Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE.

By Captain Angie Michel

Please congratulate Lt. Eric Haskamp on his promotion to 1st Watch Commander at MCF – Shakopee.

Lt. Haskamp started with the Department of Corrections in 2012 at MCF – Rush City as a Corrections Officer. During his career, Lt. Haskamp has participated in the FTO Program, Mentor Program, SORT, SOG and has been an instructor in a variety of topics, including: CPR/AED, First Aid, Control Tactics, Self-Defense, Weapons and FN-303. Lt. Haskamp brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and integrity to the Shakopee Watch Commander group.

By Rebecca Fratzke

I just wanted to send out a big-shout out for Greta and Tom and the entire MCF-SHK staff for their recent successful Transitions Fair.

From the second our guests walked into the facility, they were greeted and welcomed in by excited staff who walked them through the processes of getting situated through security and seated within the gym. Your security staff were helpful, kind and patient with our guests. Our guests were blown away by the work of your food service staff and incarcerated individuals in having such a beautiful spread of refreshments, which truly looked catered in.

Greta and Tom, your tutors did an amazing job welcoming incarcerated individuals into the fair and assisting guests with questions and directions. It was clear throughout the day that many meaningful connections were made due to the event—which would not have happened without your careful planning and preparation.

Thank you so very much for all you did to make this a wonderful event for so many incarcerated individuals, guests, and staff. Thank you also to all SHK staff who helped make this happen—it takes a village and it’s clear the SHK village knows how to rock these events out! I think I even saw AWO Jorgenson taking garbage out! Servant leadership at it’s best! Thank you all so very much!

By Jay Olson

Thirty-Eight (38) CT/SD Instructors and supervisory staff from throughout the DOC completed the WRAP Instructor Course that was conducted at Central Office on August 9.

By design, the training program is a hybrid between on-line vendor-based lecture, and practical skills application conducted by DOC subject matter experts.

By Jay Olson

Lt. Dominic Casalenda (MCF-STW) was recently appointed as Master Instructor - Control Tactics/Self-Defense. In this capacity, he will help oversee a specialized area of training to include standardization of curriculum, qualifications, certifications, and measurement of training.

Casalenda has been with the DOC since 2011. He has been a CT/SD Instructor since 2013, and a Lead Instructor since 2015. In addition, he completed a WOOC as a Training Specialist at MCF-OPH.

He was selected from a competitive application process which included both an oral interview and a skills & aptitude assessment.

By Danelle Gora

I want to give some praise for a team that supports each other, Field Services Admin.

Genevieve Wilkens, Becca Clemens Wells, and Melissa Greiner have been remarkable teammates to each other. While there has been need for each to be out of the office in the last few months, the work has not suffered as each seamlessly steps in for one another.

Recently, Genevieve has been creating materials in preparation for CSTS Web Trainings, working with Rev Recapture on contracts and an audit, MCA and navigating probation caps data requests while Melissa Greiner provides remarkable coverage processing the latest flurry of on/offboarding, and Becca Clemens Wells assists with Zoom moderator training for STA.

The work is varied from processing onboarding and offboarding staff, software administration, addressing business issue tickets, fulfilling data requests, reporting, quality assurance, reviewing accessibility and attending MnCCC and other strategic meetings. That makes it all the more profound to see how well this cross-trained team uses their roadmap to assist each other in times of absence.

I've been on a fair bit of teams, and everyone has their strengths, but this team is special. Thank you for your support of each other and Field Services.

By Jenny McNeill

Thank you to Sgt. Josh Roloff and Ofc. Tony Quinn for providing feedback and instruction on how to participate in safety on MHU. Security staff and therapy staff work collaboratively and intentionally on maintaining the clinical needs of clients on MHU, the safety of staff and incarcerated persons, and facility security. Your professionalism and excellent communication enhance our team’s efficacy and contribute to a responsive and enjoyable workplace.

Thank you: Sgt Josh Roloff, Ofc. Tony Quinn, Ofc. Brian Rohr, Ofc. Ben Mentzel, Ofc. Alex Crea, Ofc. Brian Shypulski; Sgt. Justin Steinberg, Ofc. Samantha Krusemark; Ofc. Hailey Hoheisel and Behavioral health staff: Tammy Lisowy, Mandy Cowan, Denise Johnson, Brianna Coleman, Susan Pyle, Shannon Stanton and Kristan Voss.

By Michael Crego

Shout Out plus a huge thank you to Stillwater Safety Administrator Neal Lewis. Not only did he stay at Shakopee to help us out after his promotion began, he also came back to Shakopee for a week to help out when we were in great need. Thank you Neal, you rock!!