Amanda Tondin began her career in criminal justice as a criminal clerk in York, PA but decided to return home to Easton, MD to assist her community through the penal system. She attended York College of Pennsylvania in 2018 and received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a double minor in Criminalistics and Intelligence Analysis. Currently, she is attending University of Maryland Global Campus to obtain a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management. Amanda joined the Talbot County Department of Corrections in February 2019 as a Correctional Officer. In January 2021, she accepted the position of Inmate Case Manager and is responsible for assisting with operation and administration of inmate programs, handling all internal needs of the inmate population, and oversees all participants on the Pre-Trial Supervision Program.

Learning Objectives

• To understand the intake process and how classification affects housing of inmates.
• To examine services, the detention center provide to the inmate populations.
• To identify trends being seen within the detention center
• To explore possible solutions to deter racial disparity in the correctional setting.

Charles Scott came to the Caroline County Detention Center, after serving 6 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police/ 29 years with Prince George’s County Department of Corrections and 19 months with the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. Says Warden Scott, “ I am currently approaching my third year as Warden with the Caroline County Detention Center. While serving in the military and employed with various agencies I’ve held several positions and received multiple letters, awards and accommodations to include a Gold Medal of Valor for saving a life. I started in Corrections as a housing unit officer which was my passion. From there I went to processing, Transportation, Medical Unit, Mental Health, Zone Commander, Emergency Response Team Leader, Operations/ Inspector, Assistant Shift Commander, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Security, Tactical Operations Commander, Assistant Commander of Special Operations and the Commander of Special Operations in Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.

After completing my career with Prince George’s County, I was recruited by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, where I held the position of Major in charge of Shift II at the Correctional Treatment Facility, the Armory, K-9 & ERT for the Correctional Treatment Facility & the Central Detention Center. After working with the District for 19 months I was made aware that Caroline County was looking for a Warden. After completing my career with Prince George’s County, I was recruited by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, where I held the position of Major in charge of Shift II at the Correctional Treatment Facility, the Armory, K-9 & ERT for the Correctional Treatment Facility & the Central Detention Center. After working with the District for 19 months I was made aware that Caroline County was looking for a Warden. I’ve been with Caroline County since May of 2019. I was born and raised in Kent and Queen Anne’s County, so I’m somewhat familiar with the mid-shore.

As an Eastern Shore of Maryland native, Doncella completed her primary education in Queen Anne’s County and holds an Associate degree in Human Services from Chesapeake College, a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in Social Work from Salisbury University. Ms. Wilson is a state of Maryland Board Approved and Licensed Master Social Worker with more than twenty years’ experience in the Human Services profession. She is currently the Co-Founder of Minary’s Dream Alliance, Inc. (MDA) where she serves as the Executive Director. The mission of MDA is “to transform the lives of youth, families and communities through education, resource development and community engagement”.

Ms. Wilson was elected in 2017 to serve as a Council Member on the Town Council in Denton, Maryland. She volunteers her time on various local and state boards. Ms. Wilson was appointed by Governor Hogan to serve on the Uninsured Employers Fund Board in 2019 and most recently she was appointed to the Commission on Trauma Informed Care.. Doncella seeks to live her life as the Maya Angelou quote encourages...

"When you learn teach, when you get give."

Katie Dilley, LCSW-C, is the Executive Director at Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Inc. Katie started at Mid Shore Behavioral Health in February of 2016 as Deputy Director, and has served as the Executive Director since November 2017. A licensed clinical social worker, Katie is recognized as a leader in behavioral health in Maryland. She has experience working with community stakeholders, policymakers, and nonprofit organizations on innovative approaches to improving the behavioral health of Marylanders. During her tenure at Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Katie has successfully supported tripling grant funding for the behavioral health system in the mid-shore. Katie has expanded the team at Mid Shore Behavioral Health and has worked towards supporting a more collaborative local authority structure in the mid-shore region in partnership with the five local health departments.

Katie serves on several advising bodies for the state of Maryland. Katie is the co-president of the Maryland Association of Behavioral Health Authorities, Co-Chair of the Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Council, member of the Maryland Efficient Grant Application Council, Co-chair of the Eastern Shore Behavioral Health Coalition, and member of the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition. Before joining the team of Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Katie held leadership positions in behavioral health in the District of Columbia, Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Katie has worked in acute care facilities, inpatient psychiatric settings, long term care, public school systems, and hospice /home health care.

Katie has a passion for her career of service to the community and has special interests in the aging and maternal/newborn populations, crisis intervention, grant writing, and behavioral health systems development. Katie is a native of Maryland and is a graduate of Tulane University with an undergraduate in Psychology, and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Science in Social Work. Katie loves spending time with her husband and daughter, family in Maryland and Texas, her many animals, and loves to travel, entertain, bake, and paint.

Kenny Rogers has spent his career working in Corrections. He retired from Caroline County Detention Center after working there 30 years . In 2018 Kenny began a new career at Dorchester County Detention Center as Lieutenant of Classifications. In 2019, he was promoted to Captain in charge of Training and Standards Coordinator. In September 2021 he was offered Acting Director and appointed Director in November 2021.

Warden Lamonte E Cooke is the Director of the Queen Anne’s County Department of Corrections since 1987. Former Chief Deputy at the Kent County Sheriff’s Office after appointment as a deputy in 1975. He has over 47 years in criminal justice and government service and also holds the following positions:

• Vice chairman on the Md. Police & Correctional Training Commission.
• Director on the Board of Directors of the Peoples Bank of Kent County.
• Director on the Board of Directors Maryland Capital Enterprise, Inc.
• Member Editorial Advisory Board of the African American Pride Magazine.
• Member of the Maryland Association of Counties Conference Planning Committee.
• Legislative Co – Chair for the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association.
• Member – Board of Directors of the Midshore Council of Family Violence.

Marquis Bryson hails from Baltimore, Maryland. Says Bryson, “I was incarcerated for large duration of my life and today I am upon the correct path. Growing up, I was fatherless, primarily, because off a vicious cycle that exists within the inner city of every state. My father was incarcerated throughout my entire life, which created an anxiety, aggression, and fear of the circumstances that were laid out before me. On the bright side, I've had positive role models that filled the void of my biological extension not being around during those delicate years. Retrospectively speaking, I wouldn't say that my history was filled with grief and disappointment because I consider my options that were later presented in my life as in optimistic opportunity. Introspectively, I feel my life from a standpoint of the glass half full theory… it kind of reminded me of whole premise slash origin of the legendary screen play that was entitled the Wizard of Oz. I've had some personal components to help me along the way to get to where I am today. I wouldn't say that I'm a success story, humbly, because it's always room for improvement. An old timer once told me that the minute that you begin to believe your own hype, is the beginning of the end. That's why I continuously strive to make efforts to exceed plateau and transcend. I am very excited to work with Ms. Kim and the rest of the faculty at Mid Shore Behavioral Health because as previously mentioned they were key components to help me along the way. Thank you for your time and keep your head above sea level.

Ms. Omeaka Jackson is the Founder and CEO of Harvesting Hope Youth and Family Wellness. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor- Supervisor (LCPC-S). She is currently a Clinical PsyD student at The Chicago of Professional Psychology. She is a Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional and completing training to be a registered play therapist. Ms. Jackson has worked with youth and families in diverse settings for over 30 years. The settings include educational systems, residential treatment facilities, enrichment programs, and crisis systems. She has held positions as a child advocate at the YWCA in Westfield, MA, before and after-Care Enrichment Director in Columbia, MD, Counselor, Crisis Phone Counselor, para-professional, to name a few. Ms. Jackson is the Mental Health workstream lead with Moving Dorchester Forward. She is the author of two published books. Ann Meets Mrs. Jones: A foster care book for children and Mommy What's a Protest?. Her third book "Daddy's What's a Racist?" will be published in the fall. She also has an emotional educational game and merchandise brand launching soon. Ms. Jackson is a Board member of Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, 411 Kitchen Board, and Shore Regional Health Quality, Safety & Experience Committee member. She has received several Governor's Citations, Senator and Delegate Citations, a Mayor Citation, Living Legend Award from Bethel AME Church, and the Unsung Hero Calibar Award. She is the mother of two adult children, one bonus daughter, and grandmother to an amazing 8-year-old.

Richard A. Lewis is currently a Mobile Crisis Peer Support Specialist with Affilitated Sante Group and also the owner of R.A. Lewis Consulting LLC. However, in 1996, he was convicted as a drug Kingpin and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Raised in Kent County, Maryland, on good values and morals, Richard excelled in school and went on to attend Goldie Beacon College. As the Crack Epidemic of the late 1980’s and 90’s expanded, Kent County was no exception. Richard found himself caught up on the “get rich and make easy money” side of the community crisis. Unfortunately this meant not being in the lives of his two children, because of his prison sentence.

Since his return to the community in 2015, Richard has been blessed to obtain gainful employment, renew relationships with his children and be a positive contributor in the community.

Presentation Title: I’m Home…Now What?

3 Educational Objectives

• Needs …Health, Employment (limited finances), Securing Housing (residential instability), Skill Development, Mentorship and Social Networking
• Challenges …Not knowing where to begin, Family Strain, Finding Employment, Mental Health Issues
• How Can We Help …In-prison Education, Vocational Training needed to gain skills to function in society, Substance Use Treatment (residential and out-patient)

Presentation title: Disproportionate System-Involvement

A native of Baltimore City and a tireless advocate for children and youth, Mr. Jernigan has provided two decades of exemplary service and leadership while working in various roles within state and local governments, community-based and non-profit organizations, the healthcare system, and more. Currently, Mr. Jernigan serves as Maryland's Statewide Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator and the Director of Youth Prevention Services within the Children and Youth Division of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services. In these roles, he plans and coordinates statewide efforts to improve outcomes for Maryland's children and youth, reduce child welfare and juvenile justice system involvement, and combat the overrepresentation of youth of color in Maryland's juvenile justice system.

Mr. Jernigan is currently in his second term serving as the National Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator Representative with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, a national organization committed to improving the country's juvenile justice system and creating more just and equitable outcomes for all youth and children who are involved with or at risk of becoming system involved. In November 2021, Mr. Jernigan was named the recipient of CJJ's National Andrew Smith Award which recognizes a Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator who has made outstanding contributions to the elimination of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the juvenile justice system.