Welcome to the National Institute of Corrections Green Corrections blog.  The recent movement in corrections around the idea of becoming "green" has prompted NIC to create this blog in order to pass along any information we become aware of on the subject.  

But what exactly is "Green Corrections"?  Green Corrections can be defined as developing and practicing environmentally friendly business practices, with both planning/constructing and existing facilities to increase environmental awareness in the field of corrections; and by investigating green-collar job readiness programs and strategies to make penal industries and correctional agencies more environmentally friendly and self-sustaining.  In other words, green corrections can have a positive impact on the cost effectiveness of facilities and play a role in preparing inmates for release.

The recent movement in becoming "green" is partially influenced by fiscal constraints being placed on corrections.  The Bureau of Justice Statistics found per capita expenditure for each justice function increased between 1982 and 2003, with corrections having the largest per capita increase of 423% (BJS, 2003)-- a growth rate higher than both law enforcement and the judiciary. With agencies competing for performance-based budgets, agencies must show they are operating effectively and efficiently.

This is the beginning of what could be a new generation of correctional facilities.  Facilities may be required to enhance their infrastructures by implementing self-sustaining and environmentally friendly processes for day-to-day operations, or as back-up plans during times of emergency.  This also increases the potential for facilities to create green products and services which will reduce costs and improve green collar job skills inside and outside of the facility. Reducing operational costs will allow more funding to be directed to programs designed to produce long-term, positive effects on offenders re-entering the community.

According to the American Solar Energy Society, jobs in renewable-energy and energy-efficiency industries could increase to 40 million by 2030 (MacMillian, 2008).  It is believed that most firms are not prepared to handle the rapid growth of these types of jobs and will experience a shortage of qualified green collar workers.  There will also be a greater need for green collar jobs as traditional blue collar jobs have become less available and competition for them increases (Jones and Wyskida 2007).

New green collar jobs require less licensing than some blue collar jobs (Pinderhughes, 2007).  This may increase the potential for former offenders to find gainful employment post release.  Green collar skills are transferable and can change how institutions view job assignments in their facilities prompting practitioners to create green collar jobs within the institution and develop green collar job readiness training programs.

 The Prisons Industry work programs offer another avenue to create more environmental awareness through the services and products they produce.  Prison Industries have the potential to create green collar jobs, promote awareness through producing energy efficient and environmentally friendly products, create new programs inside correctional facilities, and lower pollution and byproduct wastes.

If your corrections facility has a green initiative, please let us know in the comment box below.  Thanks for reading.

Jones, Van and Wyskida, Ben.  Creating Green-Collar Jobs. Tom Paine 23 January 2007.  http://www.tompaine.com/article/2007/01/23/creating_greencollar_jobs.php

MacMillian, Douglas.  Switching to Green-Collar Jobs:  A Growing Number of Professionals are Taking Their Talents and Moving Then to Jobs that Can Improve the Environment.  Business Week.  10 January 2008.  http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jan2008/ca2008018_005632.htm.

Pinderhughes, Raquel.  Green Collar Jobs:  Work Force Opportunities in the Growing Green Economy, Race, Poverty & the Environment.  Volume 13, no 1, Summer 2006.

Pinderhughes, Raquel.  Green Collar Jobs:  An Analysis of the Capacity of Green Business to Provide High Quality Jobs for Men and Women with Barriers to Employment, 2007.