NORTH LITTLE ROCK – Gov. Asa Hutchinson proclaimed May 2 through May 8, 2021, as Correctional Officers and Employees Week in the state of Arkansas. Overlapping during this week are the observances of Teacher Appreciation Week on May 3 through 7, and National Nurses Week on May 6 through 12. Since the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC) employs each of these entities, there is much cause for celebration this week!
Hutchinson shared, “Prisons and community correction centers must operate every hour of every day, regardless of weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters, travel hazards, or a global pandemic.”
2020 will forever be remembered as a hard and challenging year for everyone, and the correctional setting was no exception. Even under the hardest of circumstances, our officers were present and on post, employees kept daily operations running smoothly, nursing staff worked around the clock providing care to the sick, and teachers got creative with their instructional methods. Everyone worked together towards a common goal of managing the state’s inmate population and maintaining the public’s safety every day.
“Thousands of men and women serve as correctional officers and employees at the Arkansas Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction,” said Hutchinson. “Without accolades or fanfare, they serve with honor and are deserving of our gratitude and respect.”
We don’t have to look to the movies to see true heroes in action. They’re all around the DOC, performing their duties and expecting little in return. So this week, we want to acknowledge how invaluable our staff is. While observances will be held on the unit level throughout the state, we’ll also be featuring our DOC heroes on our social media platforms.
Additionally, as Gov. Hutchinson proclaimed this week Correctional Officers and Employees Week, he recorded the following video message to say thank you.
