Images above, Goord text below from ASCA newsletter Corrections Directions July - August 2006
'Look forward, have fun, stay healthy. . . '
Today is Sunday, August 27, 2006. It has rained all weekend
so no golf. Tuesday was my retirement picnic attended by
1,200 of my friends and colleagues.
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Elements of the above composite image are from page 1 of the July - August issue of the ASCA newsletter Corrections Directions.
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| Most of the people who
attended wanted to make sure that I was really leaving.
Tomorrow I leave for GITMO for three days with Jim
and Betty Gondles and others to review some specific
areas. Wednesday is my last day as Commissioner of the
New York State Department of Correctional Services.
What I don’t want to be doing is writing this article, but
I promised George, Camille, and Marla I would, and
since I will hold the record for the shortest term as your
President of ASCA, I feel a sense of obligation.
ASCA
has been a part of my tenure as Commissioner for the
past ten years, so I will make an attempt to pass on
some wisdom.
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Commissioner Goord and his office staff at his retirement barbecue Aug. 22: (ladies from left) Kathleen, Diane, Marian and Christi.
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| When I look at my 32 years in Corrections, I am proud
of the progress we have made, in all areas from staff
training to inmate programs and medical and mental
health services.
But we can, and should, always continue
to improve. It’s time for us to be more proactive.
We, including our
employees, cannot continue to do what we do and be
defined by advocates and those who don’t believe in
prisons, or by movies and TV shows. ASCA’s efforts to
gather data are a good start.
We need to increase our
communication to our employees and the community.
We need to educate the public that we do not put people
in prisons -- laws do, laws passed by legislatures
and signed by Governors.
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Goord and Assistant Commissioner/Executive
Assistant McSweeney at Commissioner's retirement barbecue. They started their careers together at Woodbourne.
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| We need to better explain the
resources we get and how we spend those resources.
Our success can and
should be judged on how well we provide for the public
safety and on how well we prepare the offenders for
a successful transition back into society.
Prison should
not be the place people come to develop skills or
receive medical treatment that may not be available in
the community.
We should stand for public safety while opening discussions
with the community on why crimes are committed
and what we can do to prevent this behavior.
We
should work to put ourselves out of business -- we
know that won’t happen and shouldn’t, but we need to
curb prison growth.
In New York, crime and the prison
population have been reduced, there is a lesson to be
learned here.
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Glenn and JoAnn at his retirement barbecue.
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| After 32 years in this profession, what have I learned?
It’s simple:
Be honest, communicate with your employees,
the public and the inmates.
Learn from your mistakes,
plan for incidents but work harder on preventing
them.
Always look forward, have fun, and stay healthy.
This is my first and last act as your President.
What
next? Who knows. It has been a good ride.
Text below from Glenn S. Goord's letter of retirement to Gov. Pataki;
'Arguably best state correctional system in nation...'
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Top part of Commissioner Goord's retirement letter.
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| Dear Governor:
It is with the deepest respect for you and admiration for your accomplishments that I advise you of my
decision to retire from state service effective August 30, 2006.
Since April 16, 1996, 1 have had the honor of serving you as Commissioner of this Department. As I
close out 32 years of state service, I want to thank you for nominating me to become the first career Department
employee ever to be confirmed by the Senate as its Commissioner.
You have given enormous support and resources to the 32,000 dedicated, hard working and
professional employees of this Department.
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Above sepia image based on DOCS Today May 1998 front cover B&W photo of Commissioner Goord clapping encouragement and support during emotional moment as Gov. Pataki took the hand and held the shoulder of Bruce Greishaber, whose daughter, Jenna, 22, was slain by repeat offender. The scene above took place during a press conference announcing "Jenna's Law" establishing tougher penalties.
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| The tools you have provided have made our system safer and more
secure than ever, It makes ours arguably the best state correctional system in the nation.
We have, for example, seen both the rates and numbers of inmate-on-staff and inmate-on-inmate
violence fall to their lowest levels since such record keeping began a quarter-centuiy ago.
You initiated and completed the largest construction plan in state history for the addition of
maximum-security beds. This action added the space necessary to house violent offenders for longer sentences
while allowing us to separate those continuing to commit violence even after they were sent to prison.
You have also implemented alternatives to incarceration that have decreased the number of felons
behind bars. You have allowed more than 72,000 selected, nonviolent offenders to earn early release through
the completion of rehabilitative programs. Those programs have, in turn, led to a 42 percent decrease in the
number of parolees returning to prison for the commission of new crimes.
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Above facsimile based on a scanned image of the Commissioner's retirement letter.
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| Your policies have resulted in a record decline in crime across the state. That is, in part, due to your
1995 decision to bar violent felons from all state prison work release programs.
Governor, it has been my high honor and true privilege to serve you and the people of New York State.
I thank you for having given me this opportunity.
Text below from Glenn S. Goord's memo to staff announcing his retirement:
'Seems like yesterday I started at Woodbourne ...'
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Above from scanned image of Commissioner's retirement memo to staff.
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| It is with much thought and great pride that I announce my
retirement from state service effective August 30, 2006.
Pride,
because I am proud of what you have accomplished during my tenure
as Commissioner.
In my letter to Governor Pataki, I thanked him for his enormous
support and resources to the 32,000 dedicated, hardworking and
professional employees of this Department.
Much of what you have
accomplished the past 11-plus years has been because of his support
and commitment to public safety and safety within our facilities.
It seems like yesterday when I started in Woodbourne in
June, 1973.
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Above sepia image based on DOCS Today July 1998 page 10 B&W photo of Commissioner Goord inspecting Greene CF Special Housing Unit.
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| During the good times and the bad times, you continued
to move the system forward with a positive “can do” attitude that
is part of this system.
There is no more difficult job in public service than
corrections.
In most cases, we are misunderstood. But like
myself, we should stand on our records of successes.
I want you to know how much Governor Pataki, the people of
New York, and I appreciate and thank you for your efforts.
I trust you will continue to move this system forward.
Thanks again.
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