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“In 2018, I attended my first AJA conference as only one “AJA led the way from the dark ages to the enlight-
of two people from the state of Oregon. There, I met ened years. Through AJA’s affiliation with the
James from Florida when we were speakers on a PREA American Correctional Association, AJA’s first
presentation. When I taught my first solo AJA class, Executive Director, Dick Ford, increased AJA member-
James ended up as my moderator. In 2019, I again sat ship and services. Dick began working at a desk in his
on a panel for one of the classes at the AJA conference garage with a $15,000 annual budget, which included
in Louisville. This time, I met Stefanie Bush from Iowa. his salary. The AJA Board indicated, if you want more,
The three of us were connected again when we led a earn it! The rest is history! AJA has become a leader of
panel discussion for AJA and the PREA Resource Center professionalism, architectural design and jail manage-
in Baltimore later that year. It was there that we met ment, and has continued that professional leadership
Tracy from Texas. The four of us all work on PREA and for 40 years.”
support each other in this work. We are four individuals “I was privileged to be AJA’s first President, serv-
from across the country who were connected through ing a term of 1.5 years and presiding at two AJA
AJA, and we created a class for the 2020 AJA confer- conferences—our first conference in October 1981 at
ence but it was not meant to be due to COVID. I can’t Contra Costa, California, and at our first AJA Annual
thank AJA enough for connecting me with these amaz- Conference in April 1982 at Albuquerque, New
ing people. Stefanie and I are teaching a virtual class Mexico. I served as AJA’s President from October
together and she has become a good friend. What a truly 1981–April 1983 and on AJA’s Board of Directors for
remarkable experience with this organization.” 10 years. I continue to be a proud member of the most

“My favorite AJA moment is when I was able to grab professional jail association in the world, the American
a photo with my hero, Gordon Graham. What an Jail Association.”
amazing guy. It’s on my wall at work. I, too, find risk “The one word representing the American Jail
management and compliance truly riveting.” Association is ‘professionalism’!”

CAPTAIN DENISE DIAMOND RAY J. COLEMAN
Multnomah County (Oregon) Sheriff’s Office AJA President, 1981–1983

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