CLA would like to congratulate this year's Francke and Clements Award Recipients who were honored last week during a special awards session Saturday morning at the 2022 CLA Winter conference in Phoenix, AZ. You can watch a video of the Francke award ceremony HERE and the Clements Award Ceremony HERE.

2021 Francke Award Winner
Commissioner Anthony Annucci
NYS DOCCS

 

Congratulations to New York State DOCCS Commissioner Anthony Annucci who has been chosen by the Francke Committee to receive the 2021 Francke Award! The Michael Francke Career Achievement Award was created to recognize a member who has given outstanding service to the agency(ies) in which he/she has served in honor and memory of Francke, who was Secretary of Corrections of NMDOC, who was slain in the line of duty in 1989. 

"Commissioner Annucci has been a progressive leader’ throughout his career with significant contributions not only to the field of corrections, but also to the criminal justice system in New York State. He has been recognized by a number of professional organizations throughout his tenure and truly embodies the intent of the Michael Francie Career Achievement Award.

Throughout his career, he has been witness to, and a significant contributor, in reshaping corrections and the overall criminal justice system in the State of New York. In the 37 years that he has served at DOCCS, he has drafted legislation that has been signed into law by five different Governors. He wrote and carried out new laws pertaining to Limited Credit Time Allowance and Merit Time, which provide up to six months of time off an individual’s sentence, and the original Shock Incarceration law, which saved taxpayers hundreds of millions o1 dollar‘s.

He has long been a leader in sentencing reform and correctional program legislation, helping to draft and implement legislation ranging from the Willard Drug Treatment Program that allows the judiciary to sentence parole violators to a 90-day drug treatment program, to Jenna's Law. As well as contributing to the Rockefeller Drug Law Amendments and Raising the Age, all initiatives that have reinvested resources in the front end of the system, reducing the rate of incarceration for our youth, and sparing them from going to adult prisons.

Commissioner Annucci has had a profound impact on corrections and criminal justice in the State of New York. I am so proud to have him as a member of my Cabinet." - Governor Kathy Hochul of New York.

 

 

 

2021 Clements Award Winner
Director Bryan Stirling
South Carolina DOC

     

We would like to congratulate South Carolina DOC Director Bryan Stirling who was chosen to receive the 2021 Clements Award by the Clements Committee. The Clements award was created in 2015 to honor the memory of Tom Clements, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, who was assassinated in the line of duty in March 2013. This award was established to identify CLA members who display innovation and achievement, two of the qualities Clements himself was known for. 

"I have had the pleasure of calling Mr. Stirling a colleague and friend for twenty-five years. I am confident his service will continue to drive key law enforcement initiatives to help ensure protection for our people and abundant prosperity for our state and great nation.

Director Stirling is uniquely qualified and experienced for this recognition. From early in his career, Mr. Stirling had a passion to serve his community and state. South Carolina is a safer place because of Director Stirling's strong leadership and collaborative efforts. He has revised the disciplinary system, effectively restoring hope and incentive to the inmate population with innovative programming. South Carolina was among the first in the nation to implement Academy of Hope to help known security threats redirect their focus to more productive pursuits. The agency also developed a successful peer mentoring and intervention program through the nationally renowned inmate seminary program. Director Stirling has also been a national leader in his efforts to give states the ability to block contraband cell phones in prisons.

My years of experience and firsthand observation of Director Bryan Stirling's strong work ethic, innovative leadership, and compassionate service allow me to proudly recommend him for the Tom Clements Innovation and Achievement Award with the highest confidence." - Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina

 

 A big thank you to the members of the Francke and Clements Award Committees who have the difficult job of determining which of the many deserving applicants will be the recipients of these prestigious awards each year. 

Of course, we wish we could recognize everyone who was nominated this year with an award. We are so proud of all our Members and everything that each one of you brings to this Association!