For information contact: Melinda Brazzale, Public Information Officer, 307.777.6085 mbrazz@wdoc.state.wy.us

The Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) announces that all senior leadership in the Division of Prisons has attained the Correctional Executives Certification (CCE) from the American Correctional Association (ACA), following the example set by the director of the department, Robert O. Lampert. 

“I’m pleased to say that our senior leadership is modeling the way,” said Director Lampert. “Our goal is to raise the professionalism of those in our department; earning this certification is one more way of demonstrating that professionalism.”

According to Director Lampert, the WDOC is working toward having all staff in the Division of Prisons eventually becoming certified at the appropriate level. “An additional benefit of staff working towards becoming certified is that it will help them see the importance of our prisons and central office becoming ACA accredited,” he explained.

The department already requires participation by uniformed staff in ten weeks of preservice training and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification coupled with ongoing quality in-service training.. The ACA certification is an additional way that staff can exhibit the high level of professionalism encouraged by the WDOC.

“We are working towards being the benchmark correctional agency in the United States,” explains Director Lampert. “It is by setting these high standards of professionalism that we will achieve that goal.”

Those in addition to Director Lampert, who have attained the Correctional Executives Certification, include the division administrator (Patrick Keppler), all five wardens (Mike Murphy, Dan Shannon, Ken Keller, Steve Hargett and Eddie Wilson), a deputy warden (Mike Pacheco), and three deputy administrators (Dawn Sides, Scott Abbott, and Jerry Steele).