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Jail Conference
2026 WS&DSA Jail Conference
September 30 - October 2, 2026
Oneida Casino Hotel
Conference Schedule*
Wednesday, September 30
8:00 am – 5:00 pm :: Registration
8:00 am – 8:30 am :: Opening Remarks
- Brown County Correctional Honor Guard
- Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain
- WS&DSA President Chad Billeb
- DOC Speaker Secretary Jared Hoy
8:30 am – 10:30 am :: Changing the Way We Do Business
William Young, Correctional Wellness Advocate/Author
Correctional leaders have talked about wellness long enough—it’s time to operationalize it. In this session, William Young challenges traditional approaches to staff wellness and makes the case for embedding it into training, leadership practices, and policy rather than treating it as an optional program. Drawing on nearly two decades in corrections, this presentation examines how the emotional realities of the job impact performance, culture, and retention, and why leadership must model and institutionalize wellness to create psychologically safe, sustainable work environments.
10:30 am – 12:30 pm :: Caught in the Wire: Jail Escape Attempts and the Lessons Learned
Joe DeMore, Director of Corrections, Volusia County Division of Corrections
This presentation analyzes two escape attempts at two agencies and highlights key takeaways for anyone working in a jail setting.
In scenario 1, an escape attempt from housing pod 4B at the Allegheny County Jail sounds like something straight out of a prison thriller, except it was all too real. An inmate breached a shower access panel gaining access to the facility’s ductwork and ventilation system crawling through narrow pipes and maneuvering through multiple areas of the building. He was finally discovered by the Special Response Team in the mechanical room by the employee entrance, which was only one door away from escaping the facility. A yearlong FBI investigation culminated in mass fallout for the jail administration.
In scenario 2, an escape attempt occurred at the Volusia County Division of Corrections. An inmate slipped away undetected during a court escort. He managed to climb a fence and reach an awning roof area, only to be stopped when he became entangled in razor wire.12:30 pm – 5:30 pm :: Vendor Show (lunch included)
4:00 pm :: Exhibitor Reception
7:00 pm :: Trivia Night
Sponsored By: Stellar Services
Thursday, October 1
7:00 am – 4:00 pm :: Registration
7:00 am – 8:00 am :: Breakfast
8:00 am – 12:00 pm :: Head to Toe Leadership: A Four-Part Leadership Workshop for Today's Corrections Professionals
Odell A. Bizzell II
Leadership in corrections requires more than policies and procedures—it requires the ability to think clearly, serve purposefully, remain resilient under pressure, and take decisive action.
In this interactive four-hour workshop, former detention officer and nationally recognized speaker Odell A. Bizzell II guides participants through the Head to Toe Leadership Framework, a practical leadership model designed to strengthen communication, improve workplace culture, and inspire effective leadership in high-stress environments.
The presentation is divided into four engaging sessions:
Session 1: HEAD – The Right Mindset
Examine the beliefs, perspectives, and assumptions that shape leadership decisions and influence organizational culture.
Session 2: HEART – Leadership with Purpose
Rediscover the people and purpose behind the profession while strengthening trust, influence, and servant leadership.
Session 3: GUT – The Skills of Achievement (CPR)
Develop the three essential leadership skills every corrections professional needs to succeed:
- Communication – Building trust through meaningful conversations.
- Persistence – Remaining focused and accountable despite obstacles.
- Resilience – Leading effectively through stress, adversity, and change.
Session 4: TOE – Leadership in Action
Turn ideas into action by creating practical strategies participants can immediately apply to improve communication, strengthen culture, and lead with greater confidence.
Participants Will Leave Able To:
- Apply the Head to Toe Leadership Framework to everyday leadership challenges.
- Use Communication, Persistence, and Resilience (CPR) to lead effectively in demanding environments.
- Build greater trust, accountability, and morale within their teams.
- Navigate difficult conversations and organizational change with confidence.
- Develop a practical leadership action plan to immediately implement within their agency.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm :: Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm :: Breakout Sessions
- Breakout #1: Managing Special Inmate Populations
Sergeant Spencer Lewis & Corporal Bryan Dachel, Eau Claire County Jail
Jails are dealing with increasing populations of inmates for whom general population housing and traditional inmate management practices don’t work. This session will look at Eau Claire County’s implementation of an Interdisciplinary Care Team and lessons learned in rethinking how to manage special inmate populations.
- Breakout #2: Nearing Retirement
Nathan Mack, Trust Funds Specialist-Advanced with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF)
Planning to retire in the next 5-10 years? Then, this presentation is for you. Learn about your WRS benefits and the retirement process.
- By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:
- Explain how the WRS retirement benefit works.
- Recognize eligibility and prepare to apply for benefits.
- Identify the different types of annuity options.
- Prepare for living in retirement.
- Find additional resources.
- Breakout #3: Process of admissions at Mendota
More information coming soon
- Breakout #4: Sheriff & ODF Meeting
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
- Breakout #1: Nearing Retirement
Nathan Mack, Trust Funds Specialist-Advanced with the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF)
Repeat of the 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm breakout session.
- Breakout #2: PREA and managing transgender inmates
More information coming soon.
- Breakout #3: Process of admission at Mendota
More information coming soon.
- Breakout #4: Hope in a Hard Place: How Chaplains Strengthen Jail Culture
Chaplain Dallas Palmer, Chaplaincy Director for Brown County Jail Ministries and as Chaplain for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office
Having a chaplain serving in incarceration facilities is about far more than simply “checking the religious rights box” for inmates. While ensuring religious accommodations is part of the role, chaplains offer critical support to both inmates and staff. In this session, we will discuss why having a jail chaplain is crucial for the overall health of the facility, how chaplains can help stabilize morale when critical incidents occur, and how they can help reduce recidivism by partnering with non-profits and the local faith community.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Breakout Sessions
- Breakout #1: Hope in a Hard Place: How Chaplains Strengthen Jail Culture
Chaplain Dallas Palmer, Chaplaincy Director for Brown County Jail Ministries and as Chaplain for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office
Repeat of the 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm breakout session.
- Breakout #2: Managing Special Inmate Populations
Sergeant Spencer Lewis & Corporal Bryan Dachel, Eau Claire County Jail
Repeat of the 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm breakout session.
- Breakout #3: PREA and managing transgender inmates
More information coming soon.
6:00 pm :: Comedian Night
Sponsored By: TurnKey
Friday, October 2
7:00 am – 12:00 pm :: Registration
7:00 am – 8:00 am :: Breakfast
8:00 am – 12:00 pm:: Crivello, Nichols & Hall Legal Update
*Schedule subject to change.