NCCHC’s annual awards pay tribute to leaders and innovators who have enriched the correctional health care field. The awards were presented Nov. 3 during the opening ceremony of the National Conference on Correctional Health Care in Baltimore.
The Bernard P. Harrison Award of Merit was presented to Robert Morris, MD, CCHP-CP, for demonstrated excellence and service in advancing the correctional health care field. A recognized authority on correctional health care for youth and professor emeritus in the pediatrics department at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, Dr. Morris has been a staunch advocate for the health and well-being of young people involved in the criminal legal system for more than 50 years.
The B. Jaye Anno Award of Excellence in Communication was given to Marcella Alsan, MD, PhD, MPH, and Crystal Yang, PhD, JD, for their groundbreaking study examining the impact of NCCHC accreditation on health services in jails. In their study, Dr. Alsan, professor of economics at Stanford University, and Dr. Yang, professor of law at Harvard Law School, found that NCCHC accreditation improves compliance with health care standards, staff collaboration, and health outcomes for incarcerated patients. The study also shows that accreditation saves lives and reduces recidivism.
Susan Laffan, RN, CCHP-RN, CCHP-A, is the recipient of the Edward A. Harrison Award of Excellence in Correctional Health Care Leadership, presented to a leader who inspires others and is committed to quality improvement in correctional health care. Ms. Laffan is applauded for her skills as a leader, clinician, and educator after a 40-year career at correctional facilities in New Jersey and more than 50 educational sessions at NCCHC conferences.
Juan “Rudy” Nunez, MD, CCHP-CP, a staunch supporter of NCCHC’s mission, standards, and accreditation program, is this year’s winner of the Jim Voisard Surveyor of the Year award. After many years in executive positions with correctional health care companies, Dr. Nunez now devotes himself to serving as an NCCHC physician surveyor. He also served on the task force that revised the 2026 jail and prison standards.
The El Paso County (CO) Jail was named the R. Scott Chavez Program of the Year for its Therapeutic Response Unit and Stabilization Team (TRUST) Unit. The award recognizes a program of excellence from among the thousands provided at NCCHC-accredited jails, prisons, and juvenile confinement facilities. The TRUST program employs trained mental health professionals to respond to escalating situations, resulting in a significant reduction in use-of-force incidents.
In addition, three facilities received Pinnacle recognition for having achieved NCCHC accreditation in three separate service areas: the Clackamas County (OR) Sheriff’s Office Jail, Complejo Correccional Ponce in Puerto Rico, and the Pima County (AZ) Adult Detention Complex, are all accredited for health services, mental health services, and opioid treatment programs. This is the first time that three facilities have earned Pinnacle status in one year.
Congratulations to all this year’s award winners!
