Daniel Junior - Director
Daniel Junior is a Miami native and the father of three beautiful daughters. He has been a committed Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR) employee, where he has risen through the ranks.
During his career, he has successfully spearheaded many initiatives for Miami-Dade County to include the opening of a new central intake facility, transition of hundreds of acute mentally ill inmates to a new Mental Health Treatment Center, and the ongoing development of a new Offender Management System, just to name a few. Prior to his appointment of Department Director, he served as the Assistant Director of Custody Services responsible for the oversight of four detention facilities (Pre-Trial Detention Center, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Metro West Detention Center, and Training and Treatment Center), three bureaus (Court Services, Intake and Release, and Transportation and Special Services) responsible for the intake, classification, housing, and release of approximately 70,000 persons annually.
Mr. Junior received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Thomas University in 2009, a Jail Manager Certification from the American Jail Association in 2010, as well as a graduate certification from the 2008 National Jail Leadership Command Academy Inaugural Class. He graduated from the prestigious National Academy Session 263 of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Jail Executive Development Program, a collaboration of the American Jail Association and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University. Most recently, he completed Florida International University’s Chapmanville Leadership Development Program. He is a member of the American Jail Association, American Correctional Association, International Chiefs of Police, National Institute of Correction’s Large Jail Network, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, Police Officers Assistance Trust, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. He is the first member of MDCR to be appointed to the Executive Board of the Miami Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police where he is currently serving as its President. He is also currently serving as the Chairperson of the Dade Miami Criminal Justice Council. He has recently been honored by the Progressive Officers Club with the 2017 Man of the Year Award, by the Legacy South Florida Magazine as one of Miami-Dade County’s Most Powerful and Influential Leaders and by the American Jail Association as the prestigious Ray Coleman Correctional Administrator of the Year for his contributions to the corrections profession. Committed to giving back to the community, Mr. Junior also volunteers as a role model for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project and as a big brother for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami. He is a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
After serving as Interim Director, Mr. Junior was appointed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez to serve as Department Director of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department on February 12, 2018. As the Director, he is responsible for one of the largest jail systems in the United States. Director Junior strongly supports enhanced safety initiatives to ensure the safety of staff as well as inmates housed in MDCR detention facilities. He also advocates leadership development for his command staff as is evidenced by MDCR enrolling more leaders in the National Jail Leadership Command Academy than any other agency. He also supports professional development and encourages staff to become Certified Jail Managers in an effort to incorporate the critical review of internal operations and continual improvement of MDCR jail operations. To that end, he created the Office of Performance Improvement and Management, and hired a certified Lean Six Sigma black belt to spree head systematic data analysis to identify trends, and develop action planning processes to enhance MDCR jail system. Throughout his career, Director Daniel Junior has been committed to MDCR’s mission to serve the community by providing safe, secure and humane detention for individuals in our custody while preparing them for a successful return to the community.
During his career, he has successfully spearheaded many initiatives for Miami-Dade County to include the opening of a new central intake facility, transition of hundreds of acute mentally ill inmates to a new Mental Health Treatment Center, and the ongoing development of a new Offender Management System, just to name a few. Prior to his appointment of Department Director, he served as the Assistant Director of Custody Services responsible for the oversight of four detention facilities (Pre-Trial Detention Center, Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, Metro West Detention Center, and Training and Treatment Center), three bureaus (Court Services, Intake and Release, and Transportation and Special Services) responsible for the intake, classification, housing, and release of approximately 70,000 persons annually.
Mr. Junior received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Thomas University in 2009, a Jail Manager Certification from the American Jail Association in 2010, as well as a graduate certification from the 2008 National Jail Leadership Command Academy Inaugural Class. He graduated from the prestigious National Academy Session 263 of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Jail Executive Development Program, a collaboration of the American Jail Association and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University. Most recently, he completed Florida International University’s Chapmanville Leadership Development Program. He is a member of the American Jail Association, American Correctional Association, International Chiefs of Police, National Institute of Correction’s Large Jail Network, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, Police Officers Assistance Trust, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. He is the first member of MDCR to be appointed to the Executive Board of the Miami Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police where he is currently serving as its President. He is also currently serving as the Chairperson of the Dade Miami Criminal Justice Council. He has recently been honored by the Progressive Officers Club with the 2017 Man of the Year Award, by the Legacy South Florida Magazine as one of Miami-Dade County’s Most Powerful and Influential Leaders and by the American Jail Association as the prestigious Ray Coleman Correctional Administrator of the Year for his contributions to the corrections profession. Committed to giving back to the community, Mr. Junior also volunteers as a role model for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project and as a big brother for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Miami. He is a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
After serving as Interim Director, Mr. Junior was appointed by Mayor Carlos Gimenez to serve as Department Director of the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department on February 12, 2018. As the Director, he is responsible for one of the largest jail systems in the United States. Director Junior strongly supports enhanced safety initiatives to ensure the safety of staff as well as inmates housed in MDCR detention facilities. He also advocates leadership development for his command staff as is evidenced by MDCR enrolling more leaders in the National Jail Leadership Command Academy than any other agency. He also supports professional development and encourages staff to become Certified Jail Managers in an effort to incorporate the critical review of internal operations and continual improvement of MDCR jail operations. To that end, he created the Office of Performance Improvement and Management, and hired a certified Lean Six Sigma black belt to spree head systematic data analysis to identify trends, and develop action planning processes to enhance MDCR jail system. Throughout his career, Director Daniel Junior has been committed to MDCR’s mission to serve the community by providing safe, secure and humane detention for individuals in our custody while preparing them for a successful return to the community.
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Daniel JuniorDirector
Dr. Martin Luther King Office Plaza
2525 NW 62nd St.,
Miami, FL 33147
