Pastor Ronald Benton, the Madison County jail chaplain, has been named West Tennessee's Program Facilitator of the Year by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, the Madison County Sheriff's Office announced.
What Benton does
According to the sheriff's office, Benton leads programs that help people develop skills and knowledge to change their lives. Under his leadership, the Madison County Corrections Division offers 10 evidence-based programs designed to promote personal growth, accountability, education and reentry into society. The sheriff's office described the division as one of the top jail programming divisions in Tennessee.
His work also helped the Corrections Division earn Tier 1 certification from the Tennessee Corrections Institute this year, the sheriff's office said.
Praise from colleagues
Chief of Corrections Eddie Dowdy, who has worked beside Benton for three and a half years, credited him with implementing all 10 programs. "Our Tier 1 certification would not have been possible without his strong work ethic and tireless commitment to building an exceptional programs division," Dowdy said. He added that he is confident Benton will keep building the program at the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex.
Sources: WBBJ-TV, Madison County Sheriff's Office