Dan M. Reynolds

About the Author

Dan M. Reynolds

Dan M. Reynolds retired in November 2011 after serving 31 years with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. He began his career in October 1980, serving as a case manager at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center.

Two years later, he accepted a lateral transfer to work with a deputy director of the Western Division of Institutions.

Ten months later, he accepted a position as a classification auditor and movement coordinator.

In May 1985, he became an administrative assistant to the deputy director of the Western Division of Institutions. Two months later, the deputy director was appointed as warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and requested Reynolds to accompany him to the penitentiary as an administrative assistant to the warden.

In 1987, he was appointed deputy warden at the Howard McLeod Correctional Center.

Nine months later, he was appointed warden at the Mack Alford Correctional Center where he was tasked in the demolition and rebuilding of that facility, following a riot, which occurred on May 13, 1988.

In 1991, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary warden was activated during Desert Storm. Reynolds served as interim warden for seven months, at which time the former warden returned and Reynolds returned to Mack Alford Correctional Center. Three months later, Reynolds returned to OSP as warden.

In 1991, Reynolds was nominated for Warden of the Year, for the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents.

In November 1994, Reynolds was named administrator of Population Management, overseeing the agency’s reception center process.

In the year 2000, Reynolds was assigned to the Security and Investigations Division with oversight responsibilities of the newly developed Intelligence Unit after a gang related homicide. While in this position, he was appointed by the agency director to chair and conduct security audits at all maximum, medium, and minimum security facilities.

In June 2006, Reynolds was appointed as Administrator of Community Corrections/Work Center, where he was responsible for the daily operations of approximately 30 community corrections centers, community work centers and halfway houses. He was also responsible for a 300-bed county jail contract housing medium and minimum security offenders. He supervised all construction and renovation projects in the division. He also supervised the Global Positioning Satellite process and transitional programs for the division.

Reynolds earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1980 from Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma. He also received a Master’s Degree with honors in Criminal Justice Administration and Management in 2005 from the University of Central Oklahoma.

He is a member of the American and Oklahoma Correctional Associations and the North American Association of Wardens & Superintendents. Reynolds serves as a consultant for the American Corrections Association.

He is a recipient of the 1998 Community Service Distinguished Former Student Award from the University of Central Oklahoma. He was the recipient of the William Parker Outstanding Graduate Student Award for 2005.

He is a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Correctional Employees Memorial Foundation and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.

Reynolds is mentioned in several books; The Innocent Man by John Grisham; F.B.I. Family by Robert Mulcahy; and Oklahoma Corrections History, 1908-2006.

He is the author of Caged Wisdom: Learning to See Through the Bars; On the Other Side of the Bars: Lessons Learned as a Prison Warden/Administrator; What God Wants You To Know, Oklahoma Prison Riots and the Most Hilarious, Bizarre and Unusual Correctional Stories Ever Told.

For further information visit the author’s website at: dan1reynolds.tictail.com.