1. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
Bennie Kelly began his career within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections in 1986 as a Social
Counselor. Through hard work and dedication, he has worked at several institutions and was promoted to
Warden in 2001. For more than a decade, Warden Kelly has served as Warden in four different prisons. Warden
Kelly came to the Grafton Correctional Institution in July, 2012. Since his arrival at GCI, he has fully embraced and
assistedthe Departmentinworkingtoward ourmission “Toreduce recidivismamongthose we touch”.
Warden Kelly believes that his role as a corrections leader is to engage and challenge staff to reach their optimal
potential as correction professionals. His personal vision is to provide inmates with an opportunity to better
prepare them for returning back to the community with the skills and programming to become law abiding
membersinsociety.Hisrole asa leaderandhisvisionhasbeenprevalentthroughouthistenure withDR&C.
During the summer of 2003, Warden Kelly came to LorCI. He remained there until March of 2008. This made him
the longest standing warden since the institution opened in 1990. Warden Kelly’s longevity gave the institution
the opportunity to grow and focus on providing services. The institution was able to improve safety and security
procedures as well as move their reception processing into the 21st
century. During his tenure, for the first time in
LorCI’s history, all beds were moved off the dayroom floors for a short period. Through Warden Kelly’s vision,
many initiatives became a reality at LoRCI. Several of Warden Kelly’s innovative implementations include the
Electronic Inmate Commitment process with Cuyahoga County and the creation of the Institutional Website which
includes the Electronic Log Book, Roll Call and Post orders for LorCI. This website creation was eventually applied
to all DR&C institutions.
Warden Kelly’s vision of celebrating diversity led to an official “Celebrating Diversity” series which began at LorCI
and included a Hispanic Heritage Luncheon, African American Heritage Luncheon and an International
Luncheon. This project also allowed for the first Women in Correction (WIC) committee to be establishedin 2006,
and LorCI held its first Women in Correction (WIC) - Women Empowering Women seminar in 2006. Since LorCI
was very dedicated to community service, in August, 2003, LorCI participated in the first school supply drive by
donating school supplies to underprivileged children in the custody of Lorain County Children’s Services and for
the Adopt a School, Palm Elementary. In the fall of 2006, LorCI formed a partnership with ManCI to build and
install new lockers for Glenville High School, located in Cleveland, OH. Warden Kelly created a Future
Correctional Professionals Career Development Program for high school students where a variety of employees
served as guest speakers to educate the students on the field of corrections. Students from Lorain County Joint
Vocational School
and Shaw High School concluded the program by spending the day at the institution and receiving a tour of the
facility.ThisprogramwasalsoimplementedatTCIand iscurrentlyinplace at GCI.
Warden Kelly reactivated the LorCI honor guard, and they presented the colors at several large scale events that
included a MLB game for the Cleveland Indians and a NBA game for the Cleveland Cavilers. Warden Kelly also
playedininstrumentalrole indevelopingthe ShortTermOffenderPrograminApril,2007.
Inmate idleness is a problem that has plagues many wardens. To combat this, Warden Kelly initiated agreements
with several outside service providers during his time at TCI. Some of the services these contractors provided
include Parenting from Inside Prison, Safe Serve (program teaching proper food service procedures) and Stress
Management. Warden Kelly elevated TCI’s music program to a Music Therapy program that included the
2. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
formation of several inmate bands. These bands played all types of music including R & B, Jazz and Country
Western. These groups of musicians were given the opportunity to perform within the prison as well as give
concerts for family members. The Music Therapy program was used as an incentive for good behavior. In an effort
to give back to his alma mater, The University of Cincinnati, Warden Kelly established a partnership with the
College of Criminal Justice. Each year, a group of several college students would spend the entire day at TCI and at
OSP to learn the key elements of day to day operations within the prison. Warden Kelly completed his time at TCI
by opening the very first One Stop Shop. This initiative set the format for continuing relationships between Ohio
Jobs and Family Services and DR&C. The One Stop Shop prepares inmates for possible job opportunities with
interviewingskills,resume creationandbasicsoftskillsforseekingandretainingemployment.
Warden Kelly witnessed his vision come to life when he was given the opportunity to transfer to GCI and develop
the first reintegration center in Northeast Ohio. The creation of The Hope Center is one of Warden Kelly’s major
accomplishments. This project has been GCI’s primary focus for the past year. The transition of an administrative
building to a unit that houses major inmate programming, supports community volunteers and members of the
general publicwasahuge undertaking.The resultisanorganizationthatprovideskeyreentryprogramming.
The Hope Center is an inmate program building that is open 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Inside these walls,
inmates and general population participate in rehabilitative programming. The utilization of technology and
computer science to connect inmates with the twenty first century is the main focus within the Hope Center.
There are many on-going programs available. Several identified programs were specifically targeted to teach
inmatesaskill andprovide themwithtrainingtopursue entrepreneurshipuponrelease.Some of themare:
Sewing and Alteration Program
Media, Graphics & Silk Screening Program
Prison Braille Program
All of these programs are critical to the preparation of providing inmates with a skill supported by an
apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program offers inmates the opportunity to participate in community
service and learn a marketable skill prior to release. All of these programs have some form of administrative over
site,butthe primaryconceptis designedtoutilize inmatesaspeeradvisors.
Keyelementswithinthe Hope Centerare:
One Stop Shop – There are 50 computers connected to Ohio Jobs and Family Services computer bank. This
collaborative partnershipbringsworkshops,jobsearchingtoolsandjobinformationintoone central location.
Inmate Pathway Computer Lab - 40 computers that offer key boarding lessons, Money Smart, Work Place Basics,
Everyday Living, Career and Job Development, Social Security Benefits, Veteran Benefits, Substance Abuse,
informationoncommercial andregulardriver’slicense andonlinebankingtraining.
CDL Simulator- Traininginmatesthathave an interestinbecomingacommercial truckdriveruponrelease.
3. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
Several otherpioneeringprogramshave beenestablishedduringWardenKelly’stenure atGCI.Theyinclude:
The ODR Project – This is designed for inmates who participate in the Vietnam Veteran Association (VVA). This
inmate group receives training in food service operations, safety and sanitation. This program also allows these
inmatestoprepare andsell mealstothe staff of GCI and special trainingprogramsasauthorized.
Educationprogrammingexpansion:
Diesel MechanicVocationalProgram - Thisallowsforinmatestoachieve ASEdiesel certification.
The transporting of inmates from the Reintegration Center inside the main compound to participate in vocational
programming.
EveningGED/tutoringprogramforreintegrationinmates.
Apprenticeship participation - Over 100 inmates enrolled in apprenticeship positions at the prison. Increase of
40% from2012.
Specialized Housing Units - GCI currently has specialized housing designated for focusing on specific needs in the
following areas: Reintegration, Veterans Unit, and Sex Offender Unit. GCI’s Faith Based Unit is slated to receive
theirunitcertificationinthe nearfuture.
In addition, a Mental Health Support Unit is being established. To accommodate the needs of four groups of
patients in general population whose needs could be met better in a therapeutic unit but who do not require the
intensityof programmingprovidedinanIOPand the extensivestaffingof anRTU.
Warden Kelly and the GCI staff hosted the Northeast Ohio Regional Reintegration and Meaningful Activities
Summit in September, 2013.This summit was designed to highlight meaningful programs both inside the
institution and out in the community. Over 700 community partners, volunteers, family members, offenders and
ODRC staff attendedthe summitandparticipatedinworkshopsandworkgroups.
In an effort to become greener, recycling endeavors have improved dramatically during this last year at GCI. A
standardized process, dedicated space specifically for recycling, and the implementation of full time management
by a staff person has resulted in a more intense effort. This effort has yielded phenomenal results. In FY13, GCI
generated $6,105.27 in revenue from recycling. In the first five months of FY14 GCI has already generated
$7,367.27. In addition, under Warden Kelly’s guidance, GCI has been able to divert roughly 1,200 lbs of shrink
wrap per month from our landfill. This improvement has been well received and recognized by Jenny
Hildebrandt, Conservation Coordinator. Ms. Hildebrandt assisted in securing more than $7,000 in grant money to
purchase containment units for recyclables. This purchase will further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
the collectionprocess.
This year GCI has greatly improved its energy conservation efforts. The replacement of HVAC units, inmate
washers and dryers, and the partial replacement of windows in the housing units will significantly reduce GCI’s
energy and water usage by approximately more than 4 million gallons annually. Other initiatives include
designated shower times and establishing a designated time to turn off all televisions. Warden Kelly believes that
these initiativeswillresult insignificantsavingsforthe prison.
Warden Kelly implemented several initiatives to reward good behavior for the inmate population. Here is a list of
some of these impactful initiatives:
4. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
Familydaysforall approvedinmate groups
QuarterlyFamilyWorshipservices
Pick-A-PostChangestoallowforweekendvisiting
FirstAnnual KairosRetreat
In addition, Warden Kelly implemented several employee initiatives to boost employee morale. Some of them
are:
Employee HolidayLuncheon
Employee RecognitionLuncheon
Relocationof the Staff barbershop
Partnershipwithsisterinstitution,LoRCItoopenan Employee Fitnessareatoserve staff frombothprisons
In an effort to improve community and local organization involvement, Warden Kelly established relationships
withthe followinglocal organizations:
Cuyahoga County Reentry Coalition
The Lorain County Reentry Coalition
The Lake County Reentry Coalition
The Summit County Reentry Coalition
Oberlin College
Lorain County Community College
Ohio Jobs and Family Services
Total # of Community Volunteers is 155. (Religious Services, Recovery
Services & Unit / Re-Entry programming).
Andthe followingNational Organizations:
American Corrections Association
North American Warden Association
National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
Problemsolvingwithinthe Agency:
In an effort to address problem solving within the Agency, Warden Kelly was involved with DRC’s 3 tier
implementation.
Inmate idlenesswasaddressedwiththe implementationof contractedservicestoprovide innovative programs.
Utilizing technology to enable correction officers the capability to log and review information pertaining to the
day to dayoperationsof the institution.
5. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
Outstanding Achievements:
Certification of Reintegration Unit. – GRC currently has 310 beds for Reintegration. It is expected that we will
increase thatnumberto approximately500by the Springof 2014.
Certificationof VeteransUnit
ODR - 5/23/13 ODR opened, to date we have had $8400 in sales. $3000 estimate in profit has been generated
from the ODR. All profits are donated to Veteran Org., Non-Profit, and warden designated charitable campaigns.
There are approximately 44 veterans in A3. The overall goal is to provide training, apprenticeships, and
opportunitiestothe veteransforrelease skills.
Staff Barbershop
Release ID– TakinginmatestoBMV to receive state identificationcardpriortotheirrelease
Partnership with Edwin’s – Edwin’s is an upscale, gourmet French restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. This program
trains inmates on the fine art of food service operations, with emphasis on working and serving in a five-star
restaurant. The curator of Edwin’s has employed several offenders that have completed this training upon their
release.
Metrics
Unit management GCI received 62 out of 68 on the 2012 Unit Management Assessment. In 2013, this was
increasedto63/68
Violence Reduction – Seeking Clarification (emailed Jo) 2012: 78, 2013: 101, an increase of 29.4%. The disruptive
incidentsatGCI decreasedfrom110 in 2012 to 105 in 2013.
Use of Force – compared to 2012: 2012: 35 Incidents involving force; 2013: 42 Incidents involving force. This
showsan increase of 20%.
Drug test results – down from 2012 In 2012, 851 inmates were subjected to a drug screen. Of those, 23 tested
positive (.027%). In 2013, 458 inmates were tested. 9 of those inmates tested positive (.019%). Positive results in
drug testsdecreasedby.008% in2013 over2012.
Employee turnover rate 2012 vs 2013? – GCI had a 30% decrease in staff terminations in 2013. We had a total of
41 in 2012 and29 in2013
ICS – managed Summit – commitment – Warden Kelly is a strong believer in the ICS system. Not only was all the
ICS required satisfied in 2013 but Warden Kelly exceeded the requirements by utilizing in areas such as the
activationof the ReintegrationCenter.
Standing committeesin areas – contributed to reduced? Two committees have been formed. They are the Hooch
ReductionCommittee andthe ReintegrationCommittee.
Capture amount of meaningful activities/inmate led program developmentin 2013. We currently have 44 Inmate
ledprograms,plusan additional 6Inmate Groupsat GCI.
6. ODRC Northeast Regional Office · 242 West Federal Street, Ste. 402 · Youngstown, OH 44503
www.drc.ohio.gov
SomethingtoshowcommitmenttoB2B:
Back to Basics committees meet quarterly and have reviewed procedures I an effort to reduce violence, hooch
and theft and to improve tool control. Post orders for several posts have been modified in an effort to improve
on these areas.
*Personal/CommunityInvolvement
Active memberof the WordChurch
Regularparticipantinthe ClevelandRite AidMarathon
The Ginn Foundation