Fenton Justice was built on firsthand experience inside the corrections system—not theory, not headlines, but real work inside real facilities.

I’m Jonquil Fenton, and my path into corrections didn’t start with a long-term plan. In 2024, I was a 23-year-old mother navigating job loss and uncertainty, applying for positions simply to provide stability for my family. One of those applications led me to the Northeast Ohio Correctional Facility in Youngstown, where I was hired as an administrative clerk supporting the U.S. Marshals Service.

What began as an office role quickly became something much more.

Inside the facility, I found myself immersed in an environment that demanded adaptability, awareness, and resilience. Beyond administrative responsibilities, I conducted cell searches, worked chow, performed pat-downs, and supported operational needs alongside correctional officers. I later attended a corrections training academy near Columbus, where I trained in a structured, team-based environment that reinforced the realities of the profession.

During this time, I also served as a stand-in Assistant Warden during a large-scale operation—participating in efforts to search over 1,000 cells and remove contraband as part of a coordinated institutional response. That experience gave me a rare, inside look at both frontline operations and leadership decision-making within a correctional setting.

From there, I transitioned into a corrections officer role at Mercer County Prison in Pennsylvania. In a smaller facility, I developed hands-on experience working directly with inmate populations, including managing female housing units, participating in security operations, and gaining exposure to firearms training and institutional procedures. This role deepened my understanding of how different systems operate across state lines and how facility size and structure impact daily operations.

I later joined the Summit County Jail in Akron, Ohio, as a Jail Registrar, where I worked in intake and release. In that role, I maintained booking records, processed arrests, coordinated with law enforcement agencies, and worked closely with probation and court personnel. It was here that I developed a strong interest in community supervision and began pursuing a long-term path toward becoming a probation officer.

Today, I am continuing my education in criminal justice, with plans to graduate in December 2026. I am also an active member of the American Jail Association, American Probation & Parole Association (APPA), remain engaged in ongoing professional development through policy discussions, webinars, and collaboration with professionals across the field.

Fenton Justice exists to bridge the gap between policy and practice—to offer insight grounded in lived experience, and to examine the realities of corrections from both an operational and human perspective.