Jodie Perttu started her career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in September of 1999 as an Office Operations Associate at Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI), where she assisted in opening a 150 bed Segregation Unit. She went on to work as a Medical Program Assistant Associate in the Health Services Unit in June of 2012 and a Program Support Supervisor in June of 2013. In July of 2014 she accepted an Institution Complaint Examiner position, which she held until 2021. In this role, she not only processed inmate complaints, she assumed the role of the Litigation Coordinator. During this time, Jodie chaired the Policy and Procedure and Handbook Committees. In February 2021 Jodie promoted to an Institution Unit Supervisor. In this role, she not only had oversight of housing units and programming, she joined the DAI Policy and DAI Mentoring Committee. In early 2024 she promoted to Deputy Warden at GBCI in which she currently works in this role.

Jodie’s extensive education and knowledge coupled with her training and work experience has greatly benefited GBCI and the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections as a whole. Jodie has a strong and diverse leadership background, with having been on so many committees and working in so many disciplines. Her commitment to the Department of Corrections and all of its stake holders is truly inconceivable. Jodie leads by example through emotional intelligence and more so challenges all staff to do so themselves.

Jodie’s integrity in unquestionable and she truly cares about the staff she works with. She is a servant leader to the staff she supervises. She works countless extra hours each week to make herself available to staff through her routine tours of the facility and her open-door policy. She has oversight of the Employee Services Program and helps implement fun activities for staff throughout the year. In addition to planning and assisting in fun activities for Corrections Employee Week, she has come into work on multiple occasions at 3am to make pancakes, sausage and hot chocolate for staff so they can start and end their day with a little food and fun!

Jodie has oversight and moved forward so many programs for inmates to include; case management, Thinking for a Change, Anger Management, Domestic Violence Counseling, Windows to Work, Adult Basic Education, Second Chance Pell, Chapel groups, Certified Peer Specialist for the inmates, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Self-Management and Recovery programming, Opening Avenues to Re-Entry Success and Restorative Justice. In addition, she was able to start a Substance Use Disorder Program at Green Bay Correctional Institution, which has never been done before!

Jodie is excited to be a member of the United States Deputy Warden Association and looks forward to being a part of this extraordinary organization for years to come!

Please join me in congratulating Jodie in receiving the 2025 National Deputy Warden of the Year Award!