6th Judicial District community corrections director retires after 35-year career

CEDAR RAPIDS — Bruce Vander Sanden has seen community corrections expand and evolve over his 35-year career, going from the “old days of trail, nail and jail” to balancing accountability with evidence-based programs and treatment to help probationers and parolees be successful after release.

Vander Sanden, 57, director of the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, retired this week after 10 years of leading the community-based correctional office, which covers six counties — Benton, Jones, Linn, Johnson, Iowa and Tama.

He started his career with the department in 1997 as a residential officer in the work release center. He went on to be a probation officer for youthful offenders and adults and became the supervisor of a newly established High-Risk Unit.

Vander Sanden was then appointed assisted director in 2011 under then-director Gary Hinzman. When Hinzman retired in 2013, Vander Sanden was appointed director.

‘Strong advocate’

His partners in the community said they will miss Vander Sanden, who always was willing to work with partner agencies to “create new and innovative” programs, such as mental health jail diversion/pretrial release program, drug treatment court and for the residential facilities.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said he has known Vander Sanden since he joined the department and has witnessed his “rapid rise through” the ranks.

“I have always found Bruce to be dependable, faithful and a man of great integrity,” Gardner said. “His initiative and perseverance have served his agency and the clients that it serves very well. Most importantly, I consider Bruce a friend.”

Dale Todd, Cedar Rapids council member, said Vander Sanden has been a “strong advocate for the role of community corrections in the overall safety of our community.”

Under Vander Sanden’s leadership, the High-Risk Unit has become a critical part of “our comprehensive anti-gun violence strategy,” Todd, chair of the council’s Public Safety and Youth Services Committee, pointed out.

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Accomplishments

Vander Sanden said he feels fortunate to have contributed to this department that just celebrated its 50th anniversary in March. He repeatedly said the initiatives he started were only successful because of parole and probation officers and Assistant Director, Laura Strait, who also retired this week after 36 years with the department, who made them work for the offenders.

In 2001, Vander Sanden helped Hinzman establish the High-Risk Unit. He built it from the “ground up” by creating protocols and policies for the officers, and even added patrol cars and designated uniforms for the unit.

These officers handle the more serious offenders and help track down those who are in work release programs and don’t return to the residential facilities. The officers also deal with more volatile and dangerous situations in arresting fugitives, and help in criminal investigations.

Vander Sanden made it a requirement that all the officers in the unit must become certified peace officers. He even decided to go through the Cedar Rapids Police Academy in 2001 to become a certified officer as the leader of the unit.

“In the old days, they would just hand you some handcuffs and police radio,” Vander Sanden said. “No special training. So many things have changed.”

During his tenure, the ANCHOR Center, built in 2008, finally received funding for staff to start the residential piece of the rehabilitative center, focusing on substance abuse and mental health treatment, in 2015. It started out slowly and served both men and women, but then made the center for women only in 2018.

The center is at capacity with 23 women living there, Vander Sanden noted.

Based on research and training, they realized a facility was just needed for women in these situations because many times they are victimized by men, so mixing them with men in a treatment situation just causes more trauma.

“That’s always our goal is to have no new victims and make positive changes,” Vander Sanden said.

He is most proud of the changes they have made in the last few years by “flipping the script” and focusing on the positive outcomes. They refer to the probation and parole officers as “agents of change.” Vander Sanden said he learned early in his career, back as a residential officer, that “every interaction had the possibility to shape future behavior.”

Vander Sanden said he wanted the officers to build relationships with their clients to help change their behaviors. He wanted the officers to be part of that process by showing support and focusing on the clients’ successes, rather than their recidivism rates.

Realignment

He hopes the 6th District will be able to continue that vision in the new realignment of the eight districts community corrections being moved under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections, which lawmakers passed this term.

At this point, each district still has a board of directors, but Vander Sanden said it’s likely there will be less local control or decisions made by the board.

“I hope that we can continue this (positive) focus rather than focusing on compliance which the state is notorious for,” Vander Sanden added.

Joel McAnulty, who has worked in the 2nd District department since 1995, has been appointed by the 6th District board of directors to replace Vander Sanden. McAnulty has been the assistant director of the 2nd District since 2013.

Vander Sanden, who was eligible to retire last year, said he looks forward to traveling and spending more time with his wife, Karen Vander Sanden, and their two adult children.

But he will miss the employees of the department.

“They are dedicated professionals that make the work environment fun,” he said. “I also will miss the challenge of creating solutions to barriers that are often created outside of our organization.”

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com

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