An examination of the jails function within the correctional system and collaboration among the components to achieve the shared goal of reduced recidivism is the focus of "Our System of Corrections: Do Jails Play a Role in Improving Offender Outcomes?" "This paper was developed as part of a set of papers focused on the role of system stakeholders in reducing offender recidivism through the use of evidence-based practices in corrections" by the Crime and Justice Institute and National Institute of Corrections. The author, Gary E. Christensen, Ph.D., emphasizes that the status quo will not have a long term effect on public safety and that actual outcomes will determine the future path of corrections.
Dr. Christensen was the recognized as the 2007 Jail Administrator of the Year by the American Jail Association. The appendix of this document includes "One Example of a Successful Jail Transition Program: The Dutchess County Jail Transition Program", which is the jail program he designed and developed.
Sandy Schilling is the Jail Specialist for the National Institute of Corrections Information Center