Influential Woman · Corrections

Tionee Baskin

Captain, Alabama Department of Corrections

Montgomery, AL

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University Degree Master's Degree in Emergency Homeland Security from Arbor University Degree Montgomery Cert PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Expert Cert Gender Responsive Expert Cert National Institute of Corrections Staff Analysis Training Cert Telestaff Program Owner Member Honor Society Organization

Her Story

About Tionee

I have dedicated 13 years to the Alabama Department of Corrections, progressing through every rank to reach my current position as Correctional Captain and Resource Planning Unit Coordinator. I started as a Correctional Officer in February 2014, was promoted to Correctional Sergeant in 2018, and then to Correctional Lieutenant in 2021. In each role, my focus remained the same: custody and control, rehabilitation programs, and helping female offenders establish character and prepare for reintegration into society. As a lieutenant, I was given the unique task of building a scheduling and budgeting program for the entire state, and I succeeded in implementing it across all 26 facilities. This achievement led to my promotion to captain, where I now serve as the Telestaff Program Owner and expert for our state. In my current role, I monitor overtime and budgeting for every facility in Alabama, ensuring that every dollar is accounted for and that staffing decisions prioritize safety and security for both the over 1,000 inmates and the staff under my oversight. I supervise over 60 employees and provide wardens with the resources and guidance they need to run their facilities efficiently. Beyond administration, I have been a mentor to female offenders, showing them that there is life beyond these walls and that mistakes do not define them. At 33, I am the youngest captain in the state, and my next goal is to become the youngest warden, eventually working my way to Deputy Commissioner over Women's Services.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Tionee

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to resilience, persistence, and the ability to bounce back from failure. I keep trying and maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity, especially when dealing with the incarcerated. In this field, you realize that you could be on either side of the wall, and that perspective keeps me grounded. The ability to bounce back from failure is truly a reward in itself. I don't do this just for a pat on the back. I do it because I have a daughter who is 14 years old, and she doesn't know anyone else besides me who holds these types of positions. It gives her something to look up to. I was a teen parent, and I took a different route outside of the basic, everyday jobs. I wanted to do something for my baby, and that drive has pushed me forward every step of the way.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My advice to women entering the correctional realm is to establish firm boundaries and maintain professionalism. As a woman in this field, you're not looked at as being as strong, so we have to build a strong, confident, and commanding presence. We have to have a strong presence immediately when entering this field. I hate that it's like that, but it's like that. Women also need to know about all the opportunities they have with their degrees. I think a lot of people assume criminal justice is just policing, but it's also corrections. There are female wardens across the country standing their ground and running facilities. My goal is to open doors and make women aware that you have a place here.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge in my field right now is getting the public to understand that we are here to help the incarcerated, not to punish them. There is a shadow over correctional officers inside a facility and those who hold some sort of rank or position within that prison. Alabama receives a lot of backlash for our state prisons, but there's a good side to it. There are a lot of people, including myself, who have been great mentors to these inmates. So my biggest challenge is the eye of the public. As for opportunities, being in corrections helps build character. The money is rewarding, I can say that, but the greatest thing of all is it helps mold and build character within yourself. It puts you through the fire and helps you overcome different adversity.

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

The values most important to me are accountability, professionalism, and integrity.

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