My Life

This book tells the history of American corrections over the last 45 years as seen through the career of John D.Rees. Rees is a corrections professional who has worked in both the government and private sector, in six states, at various levels of executive and administrative positions. He tells his story of corrections through a variety of vignettes that he experienced over the past 45 years, starting from his early years at the University of Kentucky and Florida State University, to professional stints in Kentucky & Oklahoma in the 1970s. Then a return to state government in Kentucky and then on to the private company Corrections Corporation of America in the 1980s & '90s. In this new century, he returned to Kentucky as Commissioner of Corrections. Mr. Rees has followed a path through disturbances,escapes, court orders focusing on accreditation and professional management. He chronicles the tremendous changes that has taken place over the past four decades; corrections today is not perfect, far from it, but it is light-years from where it was when he began his career in 1967.

ohn Rees has an extensive background in corrections from line-staff duties through the supervisory and administrative ranks to various executive level positions including Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Corrections. He has worked in the public and private sectors of corrections with fascinating stories to share as he moved through his various positions. As readers will experience by reading, Mr. Rees's accounts of events along his career, the field of corrections has gone through some dramatic changes. The reader will gain an understanding of these significant developments in the evolution of corrections. Currently, Mr. Rees is a consultant in corrections and continues to offer his knowledge and skills to local and state government entities.