For information contact: Melinda Brazzale, Public Information Officer, (307) 777-6085
Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) Director Bob Lampert announced today his selection of Michael Murphy as the warden at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) in Torrington. Murphy is currently the warden at the Wyoming State Penitentiary (WSP) in Rawlins, a position he has held since September 2006. The WMCI is under construction and is slated to open in early 2010.
His transfer to the Torrington position will take effect on April 1, 2009. However, Warden Murphy will continue to work at WSP in an advisory capacity until May 1, 2009, to allow a smooth transition in leadership.
Director Lampert said, “I'm very pleased that Mike has accepted this new position. His experience in Corrections and his dedication to the vision of our department will be vital as we prepare to hire staff and open the new prison."
“My wife Julie and I are looking forward to moving to Torrington and making it our home,” said Warden Murphy. “Though we’ll miss the good friends we’ve made in Rawlins, we’re eager to jump into this new community and the work ahead.”
During his tenure in Rawlins, Warden Murphy successfully led WSP out of a court-ordered remedial plan. Under his leadership, WSP also successfully opened and expanded prison industries, reduced the number of assaults and serious incidents, reduced the number of segregated inmates, expanded staff training opportunities, pioneered 12-hour shifts, and reduced employee turn-over.
Warden Murphy came to WSP in 2005 from Missouri as Associate Warden of Programs and was promoted to Warden at WSP in 2006. He had previously worked in positions of increasing responsibility for the Missouri Department of Corrections from 1977 until 2005.
Murphy began his Corrections career in 1977 at the Missouri Training Center for Boys as a Youth Specialist following his graduation from Lincoln University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. Later that year, he was selected to be the institutional parole officer at the Missouri State Penitentiary.
Murphy transferred to be an institutional parole officer at the Central Missouri Correctional Center in 1980. He was selected as Functional Unit Manager at the Ozark Correctional Center in 1982 and to Assistant Superintendent there in 1984, where he was responsible for the work release program.
In 1989, Warden Murphy was promoted to Associate Superintendent at the Boonville Correctional Center for youthful, first-time offenders. During his time there, he oversaw the facility's growth from 750 to 1,700 offenders, established a functional unit management system and received the Governor's Award for Productivity and Quality.
In 2000, Murphy became Superintendent of the 1,565-bed Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, which houses inmates with moderate mental health impairments that require clinical attention. He successfully implemented the Prison-to-Community (Reentry) Initiative, created a Rural Employment Opportunity Program, and established a faith-based therapeutic community program. Prior to his retirement from the Missouri system to join the Wyoming DOC in 2005, Murphy was nominated by the Missouri DOC to the American Corrections Association as "Best in the Business."
In 2008, Warden Murphy was elected to serve as President of the West Central Warden's and Superintendent's Association and was nominated for an American Corrections Association's "Best in the Business" award.
Mike Murphy and his wife have three grown children and one grandchild.