A selfless gift. (Best in the Business).

Pamela Baker, master sergeant of Unit 2-Visiting at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, La., feels it is important to give back to the community. As a volunteer employee liaison for the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF), she helps many co-workers and their families through difficult times. According to Baker, the volunteer position provides "the best of two situations. It affords me to give something back to the community and do something for my co-workers." Her genuine concern for others and altruistic attitude make it easy for her to do her job, which she has been successful at and thoroughly enjoys.

Since 1999, Baker has been involved with CPOF, a charitable organization that helps families of officers killed in the line of duty. She became interested in the foundation when Robbie Farquhar, whose father was a warden in Alabama, spoke to Elayn Hunt employees about the importance of the foundation. Farquhar lost both his parents when a grounds crew inmate broke away, stabbed them and burned down their house. After Farquhar's presentation, C.M. Lensing, warden of Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, encouraged employees to get involved with the foundation. Baker contacted Lensing and told him about her previous volunteer work with organizations such as the United Way. She then was appointed employee liaison.

Created in 1984, the foundation offers fallen officer benefits and a catastrophic assistance program for which staff can apply if they are seriously ill or experience a household tragedy, such as a fire. There is no cost for assistance; membership is the only fee.

As a liaison, it is Baker's duty to educate employees about the foundation, recruit members, help members complete and file assistance applications, and ensure that officers' families receive their award checks. More important, Baker provides emotional support for family members who have experienced tragedies. Shortly after she became a liaison, Baker was able to help the family of an officer who was killed in the line of duty during a hostage situation at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in December 1999. She had the honor of escorting the family to CPOF's annual memorial service in Colorado and was able to learn about the officer and his family. "It gave me real personal contact [with the family], whose lives were changed forever because of this tragedy," Baker says.

Another example of Baker's work involves helping the family of an officer who died last January. Baker has built a friendship with the officer's mother and was privileged with presenting a check to the family during a memorial service. "It is a rewarding experience to get to know these people on a more personal basis," she says.

Although Baker spends a significant amount of time informing correctional officers about the organization, she finds it fairly easy to recruit members. "It is not something I have to go out and sell or have to spend hard energies [convincing people] that it is a good organization," she says. "Its services speak for themselves."

Baker, who has been involved with corrections for three and one-half years, finds learning more about the criminal justice system most rewarding. She enjoys her position in the visiting operations section because it gives her a chance to do many different things such as interacting with the public and inmates, and learn different aspects of criminal histories.

Baker plans to continue learning about the field and climbing the ladder of success. She also hopes to increase CPOF membership in Louisiana and hold CPOF's annual memorial service in New Orleans, possibly in 2005. "It would be a great opportunity for staff in Louisiana to see what a wonderful organization it is," she says. In addition, Baker will continue to encourage correctional staff to learn more about the organization. "We have to take care of our own and be aware that our jobs are stressful and demanding," she says. "We must use the resources available to us."

Baker has been successful in her mission to give back to others. By making resources available to those in need, she has provided comfort and relief to many people, something money cannot buy. "I really care about people," she says. "I don't necessarily have the financial resources to help people, but if I can give of myself in other ways, then I at least can give people that small part of myself."

Elizabeth A. Klug is assistant editor of Corrections Today.