By Corrections1 Staff
NEW CASTLE, Del. — Kimberly Hughey, Deputy Warden of Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution (BWCI), has been promoted to BWCI warden effective December 18.
The Delaware Department of Correction announced the promotion for Hughey to fill the opening created when BWCI Warden Brian Emig was recently promoted to warden of Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.
“Warden Hughey is a highly trained and accomplished leader with a proven track record of managing complex security operations, being attentive to the needs of her staff, and embracing innovative practices and programs to meet the treatment, education and rehabilitation needs of the women in our custody,” Shane Troxler, Bureau Chief of Prisons, said.
Hughey has served in multiple positions since completing academy training in 2006. She was first assigned to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. After serving from 2007 to 2009 at Sussex Correctional Institution she returned to JTVCC where she earned promotions to corporal and sergeant.
In 2015, she was promoted to Lieutenant at BWCI where she served as a disciplinary hearing officer and assisted with offender classification.
In 2017, she was promoted to staff lieutenant and a shift commander at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution and in 2018 she served as the staff lieutenant at New Castle County Community Corrections where she served as scheduling officer, training administrator, and emergency preparedness coordinator.
In 2019, she was promoted to major and security superintendent at BWCI with the lead responsibility to plan and direct the security, control and safety programs of the facility.
In March 2021 she was promoted to BWCI deputy warden where she has directed day-to-day facility operations including overall management and administration of staff, offenders, and equipment.
”Warden Hughey has earned the respect of her staff and the individuals under our supervision and has demonstrated the ability to navigate the unique needs and challenges of administering a women’s prison facility,” Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons Kolawole Akinbayo said. “As warden, she will continue to employ a firm but fair approach to moving BWCI forward.”
Warden Hughey has employed her knowledge and experience as a specialized trainer and mentor for several years, beginning with the JTVCC “LEAD Program”, which provides training for newly-hired staff and recently-promoted corporals and sergeants. She has served as a co-instructor with the Delaware Office of Management and Budget on coaching and counseling and Moving Into Supervision and she teaches criminal justice courses at Delaware Tech as an adjunct instructor.
She has completed the Warden’s Peer and Gender Responsiveness in Women’s Correctional Facilities program and has served as a facilitator for American Correctional Association (ACA) workshops. She has earned multiple higher education degrees, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice, and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Learning & Innovation all from Wilmington University. Warden Hughey is an active member in the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and the National Honor Society of Criminal Justice (Alpha Phi Sigma).
The Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, the only women’s prison in Delaware, opened in December 1991. The facility houses both pre-trial and sentenced adult females at minimum, medium, and maximum security levels. BWCI provides programming at all security levels. Programming provides offenders with opportunities to gain knowledge, acquire skills and learn an alternative lifestyle. BWCI provides treatment services, religious services, drug therapy, educational/vocational programs, counseling, and recreation.