Online Degrees

Terri Johnson
Associate Faculty

Contact info:

Email: tjohnson@post.edu

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Biography

Academic Background:

• Master of Science Sociology, Criminal Justice Concentration
  Southern Connecticut State University: New Haven, Connecticut
  
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Correctional Counseling Concentration
  Western Connecticut State University: Danbury, Connecticut
  

Teaching Background:

• State of Connecticut – Department of Public Health-Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
• Terri has also served as both a Pre-Service and In-Service trainer for both the Connecticut Department of Correction and she has also served as a trainer for the Judicial Branch

Professional Background:

Terri Johnson started her career with the Connecticut Department of Correction as a correctional counselor at Garner Correctional, A level 4 facility. In this capacity she worked primarily with those offenders who were involved in or had some sort of identifying factor that related to addiction or any type of addictive behavior. In this capacity she held one on one counseling sessions with offenders, and facilitated both relapse prevention and cognitive skill based groups.  Also while in corrections, Terri worked closely with the Close Custody Program which was a program that worked primarily with gang members.  In this capacity she assisted in writing a cognitive based curriculum of several programs that would allow for the gang members to participate in the groups with the hopes of them denouncing their colors. Terri later went on to Webster Correctional Facility which was a pre-release facility, and in this capacity she served as the Clinical Supervisor for the Addiction Services Department, in which she was responsible for providing clinical supervision for the other counselors in the unit. She would also observe the group process of other counselors and provide feedback, and address any clinical issues.  She was also responsible for conducting case file reviews to ensure that they were in compliance with program standards.  She also served on the Statewide Substance Abuse Curriculum Committee Review Board.

Terri has also worked for the past 18 years part time as a substance abuse counselor at a community residential program for the past 18 years as a substance abuse counselor in that capacity she conducted Substance abuse assessment on all offenders admitted to program from jail, and assessed their criminogenic needs, based on these findings she would refer the offender to the appropriate treatment modality based on the substance abuse assessment, other duties consisted of recommending treatment plans for the client to the assigned case manager, coordinate urine testing and breathalyzer training to the staff, in addition to providing counseling services and facilitating cognitive based groups with the offenders.

Presently Terri Johnson is currently employed for the Judicial Branch in Connecticut as a Chief Probation Officer. Prior to overseeing the supervision unit, Terri worked as a Chief first with the Bail Commissioners Office. In this capacity she was responsible to ensure that the bail commissioners were making fair and impartial recommendations to the court in regards to the arraignment process. Review reports that are being submitted to the court, and also ensure that the offenders being released on pretrial conditions are monitored properly by the bail commissioner’s office. Currently being in the supervision unit and working with offenders post conviction she is in charge of ensuring community safety by the monitoring of the offender’s risk level while out in the community, and ensuring that the offender’s criminogenic needs are being addressed to aid in both the risk reduction and rehabilitative process. 

Teaching Philosophy:

I feel that education is extremely important, and I feel that I am a person who has the ability to guide students in developing the skills and knowledge necessary in becoming mature contributing members in our society. As an adjunct professor, I hope to motivate students to do their very best and extend beyond their own personal needs.  I would like for the students to commit to a level of performance that challenges them to reach their full potential, I also want to inspire them to realize that they can achieve any goal set before them. I also understand that in many cases there is a need to be eclectic and vary course methodologies to incorporate diverse activities to engage and interest students throughout the learning process.