Correctional Excellence Awards

ICPA Correctional Excellence Awards

The ICPA Correctional Excellence Awards have been established to recognise outstanding progress and excellence with respect to the mission of the ICPA, particularly those achievements which advance humanitarian approaches and professional corrections. Through the awards, ICPA aims to:

Encourage correctional organisations and activities at the international, national, institutional, and community levels that promote the goals of the ICPA;
Enhance professionalism and excellence in correctional activities at both the organisational and individual level;
Encourage cooperation, partnership, teamwork and the sharing of professional knowledge;
Encourage improved humanitarian approaches toward inmates and offenders.

Reducing Reoffending Award

The ICPA Reducing Reoffending Award recognises outstanding, evidence-based programs or initiatives that demonstrably contribute to the safe reintegration of offenders into the community, support desistance from crime, and uphold respect for the dignity and rights of all individuals.

The Gary Hill Memorial Award for Staff Wellbeing and Development

In honour of the invaluable dedication of Gary Hill, a founding member of the ICPA, the ICPA Gary Hill Staff Wellbeing and Development Award recognises exceptional initiatives that promote staff wellbeing, foster positive and supportive work environments, and invest in professional development and continuous learning to enhance operational effectiveness.

Research Award

The ICPA Research Award recognises a researcher whose sustained body of research has made a significant contribution to the advancement of evidence-based corrections and criminal justice. The award honours scholarly work that demonstrates rigour, relevance, and impact, and that informs policy, practice, and innovation in alignment with the values and objectives of the ICPA. .

Community Corrections Award

The ICPA Community Corrections Award recognises exceptional work and innovative approaches in the supervision, support, and rehabilitation of people impacted by community corrections. This Award seeks to acknowledges the vital role played by probation, parole, and community corrections agencies, providers, and partners in advancing public safety and reintegration.

Correctional Healthcare Award

The ICPA Correctional Healthcare Award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in the treatment, care, and wellbeing of people in custody. The award highlights the implementation of best practices, evidence-based initiatives, and innovative approaches that enhance the quality, accessibility, equity, and effectiveness of correctional healthcare services, in a manner that promotes dignity, human rights, and continuity of care.

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award

The ICPA Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award recognises an individual working in corrections, in frontline, operational, professional, or strategic roles, whose work demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the values and mission of ICPA. The award honours a specific act, achievement, or sustained standard of performance that advances professional, ethical, and evidence-based correctional practice, and contributes to improved outcomes for people in custody or under community supervision.

The Peter Severin Award

In honour of the leadership and commitment of former ICPA President, Peter Severin, the Peter Severin Award recognises a Head of Correctional Service or Agency who has made an outstanding contribution to advancing professional, ethical, and humane prisons and corrections within their jurisdiction. Nominees must be a current or recent Head of Service or Agency at the time of nomination.

Outstanding Contribution to the Association Award

The ICPA Outstanding Contribution to the Association Award recognises an individual or organisation whose exceptional dedication, leadership, or service has significantly strengthened the work, values, influence, and community of ICPA.

President’s Award

The ICPA President’s Award recognises an individual or organisation that has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to corrections and/or criminal justice, and whose work exemplifies the values and mission of ICPA. Please note nominations for this distinguished award are made solely by the President of ICPA.

The deadline for submitting nominations is August 17, 2026 (23:59 PM CET)!

Award Winners

2025 Awards Winners

President’s Award

John P. May, MD, Health through Walls, USA

Community Corrections Award

Corrections Victoria, The Maribyrnong Community Residential Facility, Australia

Correctional Healthcare Award

Kosovo Correctional Service, Comprehensive Care and Rehabilitation, Kosovo

Head of Service Award

Mr Peter Severin, Australia

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award

Northern Ireland Prison Service, Hydebank Wood Secure College, Northern Ireland

Reducing Reoffending Award

Singapore Prison Service, Women’s Programming for Reducing Re-offending, Singapore

Research Award

Prison and Probation Service, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and Health Care Services for Prisoners, Finnish Prison Population Study, Health and Wellbeing of Prisoners (WattuIV), Finland

The Gary Hill Memorial Award for Staff Wellbeing and Development

Sindicatul National al Personalului din Penitenciare (National Trade Union of Prison Police), Romania

2024 Awards Winners

President’s Award

The Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP), Singapore Prison Service, Yellow Ribbon Singapore and CARE Network partners, Singapore

Community Corrections Award

Project JET, Hong Kong Correctional Services Department, China

Correctional Healthcare Award

Online Psycho-Social Support Services (OPSS), General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Türkiye

Head of Service Award

Moses Cyril Ngawaite Chihobvu, Commissioner General of Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, Zimbabwe

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award

Sandra Sinsch-Gouffi, Salus Forensic State Hospital Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Reducing Reoffending Award

Inside to Outside Jobs Strategy, Corrections Victoria, Australia

Research Award

Danielle S. Rudes, Sam Houston State University, USA

The Gary Hill Memorial Award for Staff Wellbeing and Development

Tomorrow's Senior Managers (TSM), Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

2023 Awards Winners

President’s Award

Lady Edwina Grosvenor, One Small Thing, United Kingdom

Community Corrections Award

Rehabilitation Directorate, Community Corrections, Corrective Services NSW, Australia

Correctional Healthcare Award

Grace Butler, Foundation Genesis and Health through Walls, Dominican Republic

Head of Service Award

Dr Ivan Zinger, Office of the Correctional Investigator, Canada

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award

Xavier Awican Solda, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippines

Reducing Reoffending Award

A Restorative Justice Education Intervention with Prison Inmates in Lesotho, Phoenix Zululand, Lesotho & Horses of Hope Equine Programme, Irish Prison Service, Ireland

Research Award

Rosemary Ricciardelli, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada

The Gary Hill Memorial Award for Staff Wellbeing and Development

Unlocked Graduates, England and Wales

2022 Awards Winners

Community Corrections Award
BC Corrections, Community Corrections Division, Canada

Correctional Healthcare Award
Karine Duverger (and team),Health through Walls,Using Technology to Improve Health Outcomes, Haiti

Head of Service Award
Dean Williams, Colorado Department of Corrections, USA

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award
Kaisa Tammi, Prison and Probation Service of Finland

Reducing Reoffending Award
The ACEP (Integration of Smart Technologies into Prisons) Project, General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, Türkiye

Research Award
Professor, Andrew Day, Australia

Staff Wellbeing and Development Award
Singapore Prison Service

2019 Award Winners

Offender Management and Reintegration Award
Ronnie Armour, Northern Ireland Prison Service, UK - The Staff of Maghaberry Prison

Management and Staff Training Award
Justice section, Division of operations, UNODC, Austria – Scenario Based E-Learning for Prison and Corrections Officers on the Nelson Mandala Rules

Correctional Healthcare Award
Elenore Arend, BC Corrections, Canada
Stephanie Macpherson, BC Corrections, Canada
Dave Friesen, BC Corrections, Canada
Lynn Pelletier, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, British Columbia, Canada
Andrew MacFarlane, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, British Columbia, Canada
Dr. Nader Sharifi, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, British Columbia, Canada
Kim Korf-Uzan, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, British Columbia, Canada

Community Corrections Award
Department of Children & Youth Affairs, Ireland - The Bail Supervision Scheme

Research Award
Larry Motiuk, Correctional Service Canada, Canada

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award
Wanini Kireri, Kenya Prisons Service

Head of Service Award
Milan Ivan, Corps of Prison and Court Guard, Slovak Republic

The President’s Award
The Council of Europe – The SPACE Projects

2018 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award
Home Detention Integrated Support Services Program - South Australia Department of Correctional Services and OARS Community Transitions

Offender Management and Reintegration Award
The Good Loaf, United Kingdom

Management and Staff Training Award
Wellbeing and Resilience Program: Building Mental Health and Productivity in the Workforce - South Australia Department for Correctional Services and SAHMRI Wellbeing and Resilience Centre

Research Award
Professor Alison Liebling, United Kingdom

Correctional Healthcare Award
Lotus Glen Correctional Centre Hepatitis C Treatment Project

Dr Darren Russell Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, Australia
Mr Michael MacFarlane, Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, Queensland Corrective Services, Australia

Outstanding Correctional Service Employee Award
Hugues Demers, Correctional Service Canada
Jean-Philippe Trottier, Correctional Service Canada

Head of Service Award
Ray Smith, Department of Corrections New Zealand
Rick Raemisch, Colorado Department of Corrections, USA

President’s Award
The INSPIRE / Kamlangjai Project - Ministry of Justice - Thailand

Outstanding Contribution to the Association Award
Jennifer Oades, Canada

2017 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Anna McKenna, England

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Singapore Prison Service

Management and Staff Training Award:
Pedro das Neves, Portugal

Research Award:
Jeff Pfeifer, Australia
Anja Dirkzwager and Paul Nieuwbeerta, The Netherlands

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Ian Irving, Canada

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Patrick Kiirinya Mwenda, Kenya

Head of Service Award:
Michael Donnellan, Ireland

President’s Award:
Penal Reform International (PRI)

Outstanding Contribution to the Association:
Tineke De Waele, Belgium

2016 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Jason Hainsworth, Australia

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Israel Prison Service

Management and Staff Training Award:
Kenya Prisons Service and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute

Research Award:
Dr. Andrea Moser, Canada

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Hong Kong Correctional Services Department

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Amado Aquino Concepcion Jr., Philippines
Roman Marius Gheorghiță, Romania

Head of Service Award:
Peter Hennephof, Netherlands

President’s Award:
International Committee of the Red Cross

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Frank Porporino, Canada

2015 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Dr James Bonta,Canada

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Gobierno del Estado de Chihuahua, Mexico
Jennifer Gallouzis, Australia

Management and Staff Training Award:
Joe Marchese, USA

Research Award:
Dr Elizabeth Grant, Australia

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Mary Gahonzire, Rwanda

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
James Bulger, Australia
Anne Hooker, Australia

Head of Service Award:
Nils Öberg,Sweden

President’s Award:
Denise Robinson, USA

2014 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Director Jerim W.O Oloo, Kenya

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Aftercare program Vision on Mission,Trinidad and Tobago

Management and Staff Training Award:
Craig Howard, Australia

Research Award:
MSc Toon Molleman , Netherlands

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Dorin Muresan,Romania

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Assistant Commissioner Patience Kake, Namibia

President’s Award:
International Centre for Prison Studies, United Kingdom

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Don Stolworthy, USA

2013 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Sonya Spencer, Canada

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Jeremy Hildreth , Australia
David Brown , Australia

Management and Staff Training Award:
Sentencing Reform Implementation Team, Australia

Research Award:
Dr Richard Wener Ph.D, USA

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Charles Price, USA

President’s Award:
Tom Clements

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Ed Wozniack, United Kingdom

2012 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Astrid Kalders, New Zealand

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
CREO – Peru and Marlon Florentini

Management and Staff Training Award:
Ana Aguilar, Mexico

Research Award:
Professor James McGuire,United Kingdom

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Dr Annelice Roa ,Dominican Republic
Dr Rafail Mekhdiev, MD, PhD, Azerbaijan

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Pat McKernan, USA

President’s Award:
Dr. Uju Agomoh, Nigeria

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Evaristus Shikongo, Namibia

2011 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Director General Rong Rong, China

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Aleh Negev, Israel

Management and Staff Training Award:
Lars Nylen, Sweden

Research Award:
David Murray-Smith, Australia

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Mental Health Strategy,Canada

President’s Award:
Stephen Carter and the Rapid Deployment Team, USA

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Cassandra Johnson, ICPA

2010 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place, Australia

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Laura Fraser, United Kingdom

Management and Staff Training Award:
Southern Sudan and UNMIS

Research Award:
Mohamad Shabazi, Iran

Correctional Healthcare Award:
Brian Tkachuk,Canada

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Nicole de Clercq, Belgium
James Ryan, Australia

President’s Award:
Director-General William Rentzmann, Denmark

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Orit Adato, Israel

2009 Award Winners

Community Corrections Award:
Martin F. Horn, USA

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Ali Shams, Iran

Management and Staff Training Award:
National Academy for Prison Staff, Israel
Justice for All Prison Fellowship, Ethiopia

Research Award:
Prof Hans Toch, USA

Outstanding Correctional Employee Award:
Grace Anyango, Kenya

President’s Award:
HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, Thailand

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Olusola Ogundipe, Nigeria

2008 Award Winners

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Carol Shapiro, USA
Diane Williams, USA

Management and Staff Training Award:
UNODC in Afghanistan

Research Award:
Interdisciplinary Center of Research Applied to the Penitentiary Field – France

President’s Award:
Gary Hill, USA

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Avraham Hoffmann, Israel

2007 Award Winners

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Farviz Afshar, Iran
Farzad Kasrace, Iran

Management and Staff Training Award:
Bohuslav Burkiewicz, Czech Republic

Research Award:
Jeremy Travis, USA

President’s Award:
Sir Harald Fosker, Norway

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Nathee Chitsawang, Thailand

2006 Award Winners

Offender Management and Reintegration Award:
Trond Danielsen, Norway
Vegard Karlsen, Norway

Management and Staff Training Award:
Marjo Callaghan, Canada

Research Award:
SPS/DJI Survey Groups, Sweden

President’s Award:
John W. Braithwaite, Canada

Outstanding Contribution to the Association
Robert T. Goble, USA

Criteria for Award Selection

The ICPA Correctional Excellence Awards are open to individuals and organisations involved in corrections globally. Awards are presented at a Special Event and Awards Gala held in conjunction with the ICPA Annual Conference.

Eligibility and Nomination Rules

Nominations must be submitted by a current member of ICPA.
Each member may submit one nomination per award category.
Self-nominations are not permitted, to ensure an impartial and fair selection process.

Assessment Criteria

Nominations will be assessed against the following criteria:

Alignment with ICPA Mission and Values: the extent to which the individual, initiative, or organisation reflects and advances ICPA’s Mission, Vision, Values, Objectives, and strategic priorities.

Innovation and Originality: the degree of innovation, originality, or distinctive practice demonstrated by the individual’s work, or by the nominated project, programme, approach, or organisational initiative, within the relevant award category.

International Relevance and Transferability: the extent to which the work or contribution has relevance beyond its immediate context, is inspirational to others, and/or demonstrates potential for transferability or adaptation across different correctional systems or jurisdictions.

Impact and Outcomes: evidence of positive outcomes, effectiveness, or measurable impact arising from the individual’s contribution, or from the nominated project, programme, or organisational practice, including benefits for correctional systems, staff, or individuals.

Overall Excellence and Distinction: the overall quality, significance, and distinction of the nomination, including what sets the individual, initiative, or organisation apart as an example of excellence in corrections.