Valerie Gellene
Santa Maria,CA
Summary
Unit manager with expertise in team leadership, critical thinking, and conflict resolution. Proven ability to implement policies and administer programs effectively. Successfully coordinated resources and developed customized inmate programs, resulting in improved compliance and enhanced rehabilitation outcomes in the correctional system.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Unit Manager
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
Lompoc, California
08.2022 - Current
- Directed administration of unit, planning and implementing programs to address unique needs of inmates, enhancing rehabilitation efforts.
- Supervised team of case managers, correctional counselors, and unit secretaries, fostering collaboration to support inmate management.
- Maintained safety and security of the institution by ensuring inmate accountability, conducting area searches and control of unauthorized contraband.
- Ensured quality control of Financial Responsibility Program data and related correspondence, maintaining compliance with legal standards.
- Oversaw the completion of requirements for Victim/Witness notifications and Central Inmate Monitoring packets.
- Prepare written correspondence and responses to Congressional inquiries, requests for information from US Pardon Attorneys, US Probation Officers and other requests for information, ensuring compliance with applicable Freedom of Information Act rules, laws and policies.
Drug Treatment Specialist
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
Lompoc, California
07.2016 - 08.2022
- Facilitated individual and group sessions for clients with drug abuse/dependence diagnoses, employing REBT/CBT and Motivational Interviewing techniques, impacting participation levels from 12 to 48 individuals.
- Administered questionnaires and psychosocial assessments to develop and implement individual goals and treatment plans.
- Developed transitional plans to address client re-entry needs and recovery prognosis, coordinating community referrals to support successful reintegration.
- Collaborated with licensed professionals to identify dual diagnoses and co-occurring disorders, informing and enhancing treatment strategies.
- Facilitated specialty groups, with a 1:24 participant ratio, addressing anger management skill building and improving/building healthy relationships.
- Coordinated communication between institution staff and clinical providers to enhance understanding of substance abuse interventions.
- Maintained accountability of client documentation and treatment files, following both Bureau of Prisons policy and HIPAA guidelines, while ensuring participant confidentiality.
- Maintained safety and security of the institution by ensuring inmate accountability, conducting area searches and control of unauthorized contraband. *Held this position from April 2006 through February 2009 and again from July 2016 through August 2022.
Case Manager
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
Lompoc, California
02.2009 - 07.2016
- Collaborated with United States Probation Officers to gather information, develop individualized release plans, and identify community resources, enhancing successful inmate transitions into the community.
- Functioned as the primary liaison with the U.S. Parole Commission, reporting on the inmate's program progress and readiness for release, as well as relevant community resources.
- Facilitated team collaboration to devise strategies addressing inmate deficiencies, establishing a multidisciplinary approach for effectively meeting identified needs.
- Provided counseling sessions for inmates in crisis, evaluated their coping strategies, and made referrals to appropriate resources.
- Completed regularly scheduled inmate program reviews, consisting of evaluating inmate deficits and recommending a variety of institutional programs to address these individual needs.
- Prepared detailed progress reports for parole considerations, transfers, and restoration of good time, providing actionable recommendations to enhance inmate outcomes.
- Implemented Bureau policy regarding Administrative Remedies, Unit Discipline and Central Inmate Monitoring, to include, informal resolutions, written responses, processing inmate incident reports, transfers and separations packets.
- Collaborated with other units and institutional employees on matters concerning inmate behavior.
Education
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY05-2003
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice/Sociology
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ05-1998
Some College (No Degree) - Human Studies
Allen Hancock College
Santa Maria, CASkills
- Inmate monitoring
- Community resource coordination
- Treatment strategies
- Policy implementation
- Documentation review
- Performance evaluation
- Team leadership
- Organizational skills
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving abilities
- Conflict resolution
- Interpersonal skills
Timeline
Unit Manager
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
08.2022 - Current
Drug Treatment Specialist
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
07.2016 - 08.2022
Case Manager
Federal Bureau Of Prisons Department Of Justice
02.2009 - 07.2016
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice/Sociology
Rutgers University
Some College (No Degree) - Human Studies
Allen Hancock College