National Correctional Officers and Employees Week: Lori Leblanc, Recreation Supervisor

Lori Leblanc is the recreation supervisor at Nevada Southern Detention Center in Pahrump, Nevada. After working for 16 years in the Las Vegas gaming industry, Leblanc traded in casino management for a corrections career, joining Nevada Southern as an administrative clerk in 2017. It’s a decision she’s proud of, especially after a nearly fatal battle with pneumonia gave her a new outlook on life.

What brought you to CoreCivic?

Honesty, I was looking for something completely different than my career in gaming. I applied to Nevada Southern and I absolutely love working here. I work with some of the best people I have ever met.

What do you enjoy most about your role with CoreCivic?

Detainees can purchase photo tickets from the commissary and I take their photos, which they send out to friends and family or companies that offer pen pal services, for example. Taking the photos is the part of my job that I enjoy the most. Here in our facility, detainees do not have access to mirrors like we do at home. Many times, the photo I take is the first time they have seen what they look like since they were arrested. Their raw emotion is unbelievable. Shockingly, sometimes they even cry. I reassure them that their family will greatly appreciate receiving the picture.

How does your work make a difference?

I hope that I make a difference just by being who I am. A few years ago, I almost died from pneumonia and surviving changed my perspective on everything. Life is too short. I come to work each day with a positive mindset and make sure to pass that on to everyone I encounter. I just treat everyone how I want to be treated, and sometimes that is all it takes to make a difference in someone's life.