February 13, 2019 -- With February recognized nationally as Black History Month, it is important to honor one of Westchester County’s groundbreaking criminal justice leaders: Correction Commissioner Norwood E. Jackson.
Commissioner Jackson was born in August of 1934 and was a native of Washington D.C. While in college at Central State University in Ohio, he obtained his bachelor’s degree, excelled at football and was a champion at discus and shot-put.
After briefly playing for the Cleveland Browns, Jackson served fifteen years of active duty with the United States Army, including as an airborne ranger. While stationed in West Germany as its Area Provost Marshal, he was commanding officer for over 50,000 soldiers and 20,000 dependents. During his tour of duty during the Vietnam War, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, one of the highest military honors for outstanding service. Receiving multiple other awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, he retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after 35 years of active and reserve service.
Jackson began his career with the Westchester County Department of Correction in December of 1972, as a cross-complex security warden. In April of 1989, he was appointed Commissioner of Correction, the first African-American to assume the leadership of a Westchester County criminal justice agency.
While Commissioner, Jackson was an active governing board member of both the Salvation Army and the American Jail Association. A progressive leader who saw the value of inmate recovery and reentry programs, ‘Big Jack’ strived to enhance the quality of life for staff and offenders through enhanced mental health services and educational opportunities. He was instrumental in Westchester’s efforts to address overcrowding by calling for the construction of the Department’s new-generation jail, which opened in 1992.
In 1995, Commissioner Jackson passed away while still in service. An imposing man with an even bigger impact, Commissioner Jackson was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery and is survived by his wife Brenda. To this day, our correctional facility still bears his name.