FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
This press release has been issued by The American Jail Association for immediate release.
For more information, contact:
Detective Daniel Ward
Williams County Sheriff’s Office
701-577-7700
sheriff@co.williams.nd.us
Jennifer May, RN of the Williams County Correctional Center receives the Civilian Employee of the Year award
WILLISTON, N.D. (May 7, 2024): The American Jail Association (AJA) announced that the AJA Awards Committee has selected Jennifer May, RN of the Williams County Correctional Center, as the recipient of the 2024 Civilian Employee of the Year Award.
Each year, AJA gives this coveted award to an individual who gives exceptional support to jail personnel. They are considered the go-to person when anyone has a question and are indispensable to the facility and staff.
Jennifer May was raised in Trenton, North Dakota, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1990. She continued her education at Bismarck State College, Williston State College, and Dickinson State University with the following degrees: associates of science, associates of arts, bachelor’s in biology, with a minor in chemistry. Jennifer decided to pursue her nursing education in 2003 and graduated with her RN degree in 2007.
Jennifer’s passion has always been addiction and mental health. She started working at Williams County Correctional Center (WCCC) in 2015 and found “home.” Jennifer was the first medical professional to be employed by WCCC and built the medical department from the ground up, developing policies, procedures, charting, and standing orders. She has also partnered with the local college in Williston to mentor student nurses through clinicals and preceptorships at WCCC.
Jennifer is the biggest advocate for her patients and in 2017, went all the way to the national level of the Ryan White Program to advocate for a patient diagnosed with HIV. She was successful in bringing the Ryan White Program into WCCC to meet medical needs of this inmate with others to follow.
Jennifer has worked countless hours on and off the clock to bring care into WCCC for the inmates. Recently, she has worked with her local human service center to bring counseling, peer support, and medication management to inmates with addiction/mental health issues with a goal of stopping the revolving door. This year, Jennifer accepted an offer from the local “F5 Project” to sit on their advisory committee to help recovering addicts succeed in society.
Jennifer has a passion and a drive to help the people of her community and thrives on watching them succeed. She is married to Shad May and has three children, Elizabeth, Bruce, and Dale.
This award will be presented at AJA’s 43rd Annual Conference & Jail Expo on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, during the annual Awards Banquet.
###