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NEWS | Nov. 15, 2022

Air Force Security Forces Center subject matter expert oversees confinement, corrections

Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs

Michael Beard is the manager of the Air Force Victim/Witness Assistance Program Central Repository at the Air Force Security Forces Center’s Confinement and Corrections Directorate at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

As the subject matter expert for Department of the Air Force Corrections, Victim/Witness Program, Sex Offender Notification Program and Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Program, he oversees approximately 3,000 crime victim and witness program enrollments per year and ensures the protection of victim rights which includes notifications of inmate status changes.

He also ensures those convicted of sexual offenses are processed for registration as a registered sex offender and their entry into the National Sex Offender Registry with their jurisdiction upon release in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Here's a little more about Beard and how his work is important to the DAF.

What do you love about your job?
My favorite part of my job is making a difference in the Air Force and Department of Defense. From assisting victims who have questions about the notification program, to making suggestions to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Personnel and Readiness for improving policy and forms for victims and witnesses, and DAF and Department of Defense corrections. I also provide sex offender jurisdiction registries and assist the U.S. Marshals Service with documentation that leads to absconded sex offender being incarcerated for failing to register (Title 18, Section 2250), as well as answer questions regarding confinement policy, the Law Enforcement Officer Flying Armed Program, in addition to being the victim and witness, and registered sex offender subject matter expert for the Air Force.  

When it comes to your job, what keeps you motivated?
The opportunity to help victims, as well as provide correctional guidance and support to enterprise-wide confinement facility staff, defense force commanders, legal offices, the Air Force Clemency and Parole Board, and across the DOD, local, state and federal corrections and law enforcement communities.

Why are you and your team important to the Air Force enterprise/your customers?
It’s very important the Air Force protects victims’ rights and provides support, in addition to ensuring those Airmen who are convicted of a sexual offense are handed off to the appropriate local jurisdiction for registration, so they are not living in the community at large under the radar. Our partnership with the DAF Criminal Justice Information Cell as well as the U.S. Marshals Service National Sex Offender Targeting Center is key to ensuring released offenders are tracked for registration compliance.

Describe a project/event you and your team worked on recently that gave you a great sense of accomplishment:
We completed the review of DOD Instruction 1030.02, Victim/Witness Assistance and DODI 1325.07, Administration of Military Correctional Facilities and Clemency and Parole Authority reviews.  We had some critical changes to those publications as well as several prescribed forms.

How do you see yourself fitting in to AFIMSC strategic priorities?
Pursue organizational excellence! Through oversight controls, excellence is achieved by ensuring victim or witness notifications are completed on confined inmates, as well as ensuring those convicted of sex offenses are properly handed off for registration with the civilian jurisdiction, in addition to providing sound decisions regarding clemency and parole board cases and providing critical changes to DoD policy and forms. I was the author of the major changes to DD Form 2704 and created DD Form 553-1.  I also co-authored DAF Manual 31-115V1, and authored AFMAN 31-127, Armed/Unarmed Transfer Team Procedures (now rescinded and added as Chapter 13 to DAFMAN 31-115V1).

Is there anything else you’d like to add which might help people understand the importance of what you do for the Air Force?
I also serve on the DOD Corrections Council and as an alternate voting member on the Air Force Clemency and Parole Board. In addition to providing a full range of correctional expertise, this knowledge is especially helpful during parole boards. The board decisions include determining the right time for qualified Air Force inmates to be paroled or ordered on Mandatory Supervised Release under the supervision of a U.S. Parole and Probation Officer. Other decisions include determining whether a parolee who has alleged violations to the conditions of their parole needs to be returned to confinement.