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History of the National Conference for Women Working in Adult and Juvenile Corrections
by Dr. Joann B. Morton

Women have been involved in correctional work in the United States since the 1700’s. Their early efforts were primarily focused on system reform and work with adult and juvenile female offenders. In 1972, following the expansion to state and local government of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women began entering corrections in ever-increasing numbers. According to the American Correctional Association’s 2002 Directory women make up over 34% of the personnel in adult correction agencies and almost 40% of the staff working in the juvenile justice system. These numbers included women in all job categories throughout state level correctional systems.

In the beginning, women working in corrections were often isolated in their work settings so periodically they arranged to meet on a national level. These meetings primarily involved administrators of adult and juvenile female offender institutions leaving other women employed in corrections without the opportunity to share information and to support each other. As the number of women in the field increased, so did the need for broad based professional development, career planning, and networking opportunities.

Recognizing the need for more developmental experiences for women, Dr. Bruce Wolford, of the Department of Correctional Services, Eastern Kentucky University organized a group from the Kentucky Corrections Cabinet and the Department of Social Services to develop what became the first National Conference for Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile Justice. Under the leadership of Linda Boling, the first program was held at Eastern Kentucky University in 1985. It attracted over 350 participants and was cosponsored by the Kentucky Department of Social Services, the Kentucky Corrections Cabinet, and Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Corrections Services.

Following this meeting, Dr. Gayle Glasser from Oregon and Dr. Joann B. Morton from South Carolina requested to host the National Conference in their states. Some 150 women met at the Second National Conference held in Portland Oregon in 1989. Chaired by Dr. Glasser, it was co-hosted by the Oregon Department of Corrections, the Oregon Division of Children’s Services, and Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of Correctional Services.

With the theme of “Remembering the Past: Preparing for the Future," the 3rd National Conference was held in Charleston, South Carolina in June 1990. It was chaired by Joann B. Morton and sponsored by the South Carolina Correctional Association. This was the first time the conference was sponsored by a state correctional association. Cosponsors were the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Alston Wilkes Society, the College of Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky University.

During the preparations for the third conference Joann Morton contacted Jim Aiken, then Director of the Indiana Department of Corrections about sponsoring the next meeting in his state. He enthusiastically agreed and the 4th National Conference was held in September 1992 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attended by over 400 people, it was directed by Pamela H. Cline and was sponsored by the Indiana Department of Corrections in cooperation with Eastern Kentucky University.

Following the decision by Dr. Wolford that the conference no longer needed the involvement of Eastern Kentucky, Joann Morton and Judy Anderson from South Carolina undertook the task of finding sponsorship for the next meeting. After several discussions with leading women in the field, it was decided to hold the conference every other year on opposite years from the National Workshop on Adult and Juvenile Female Offenders since a number of women participated in both meetings. After some problems in finding a state in which both the director and leading women were willing to host the conference, Margaret Moore, then with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, agreed to seek sponsorship of the program by her agency. Modeled on the structure used with the National Workshop on Adult and Juvenile Female Offenders, Ms. Moore established a National Advisory Board to develop support for the conference and a national focus for the program.

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was the site for the 5th National Conference in April 1995, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the Department Public Welfare, and the Juvenile Court Judges Association. Co-chaired by Mary Leftridge-Byrd and Kathy Zwierzyna, it was the first meeting with an attendance over 500. At this conference the National Advisory Board’s Site Selection Committee, chose the Michigan Department of Corrections as the sponsor of the sixth conference.

The Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, and the Women’s Criminal Justice Association of Michigan hosted the 6th National Conference. Chaired by Luella R. Burke and Pam Withrow it was attended by more than 900 people and was the first Conference in which the program chairs were selected from out of state. Lurline Baker-Kent from Minnesota and Alethea Camp, retired from NIC put together one of the most dynamic program to date.

The Director of the Nebraska Department of Corrections offered to sponsor the 7th Conference in 1998. Chaired by Robin Spindler and Inga Hookstra, it was the first conference held in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Prison. Sharon Neumann from Oklahoma was the program chair.

The Great State of Texas was the site of the 8th Conference in 2000. Held in Houston with the theme of “Power Tools”, the conference chair Susan Cranford ensured a great time was had by all. Sharon Johnson Rion was the program chair and volunteered to seek sponsorship of the 9th Conference by Tennessee in 2002.

In 2002, the State of Tennessee hosted the 9th Conference in Memphis. Linda Dodson chaired the conference with Susan McMillan serving as program chair. The conference theme, Reaching Beyond Borders: Seizing Opportunities and Creating Partnerships, provided a variety of speakers along with the participation of criminal justice professionals throughout the United States that provided opportunities for professional and personal growth.

The 10th Conference of WWIC/JJ was hosted by the Great State of Maryland, held in Baltimore, and chaired by Patricia Phelps Schupple, Conference Chair. In celebration of the 20 years the Conference has existed, that year’s theme was: Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Envisioning the Future. Workshops addressed different disciplines and levels within the organization, focused on correctional leadership and ethics, personal growth and wellness, and introduced innovative modeling programs and strategies.

The 11th Conference of WWIC/JJ in 2006, is being hosted by the Grand Canyon State of Arizona, held in Phoenix, and chaired by Mary Ann Roder.  On the 22nd year of the Conference existence, the theme this year is: "Inspiring Excellence."  A variety of exciting speakers, along with workshops will be addressing correctional leadership and ethics, professional development, evidence-based programming, personal growth and wellness, children and families, and celebrating successes.