Corrections Community

Dear Friends of the Norval Morris Project

Before NIC and J-SAT start engaging the team that will focus on the Workforce Transformation topic posted to Friends forum a few weeks ago, we wanted to get your feedback on the topic itself.  We'd welcome your responses to any of the following questions:

- What feels most important to you about this topic?

- What additional factors or related topics should this team consider as they begin their work?

- In light of the systemic, economic, and ideological barriers that this team might face, what creative strategies might you recommend for them to be able to move forward effectively?

- What specific products or initiatives would you like to see emerge from this team?

- What else?

We look forward to hearing from you within the next few weeks!

 

Sincerely,

Jennifer Diebel, J-SAT Norval Morris Project Staff

What feels most important to you about this topic? Transforming the corrections system as we know it to one that "works" can never happen until the workforce is reprogrammed. What additional factors or related topics...? I believe that we are broad enough in scope to address the issue at hand while taking on additional topics would reduce our effectiveness. What creative strategies might you recommend...? The ultimate goal of a correctional system is to enhance public safety, which can be done through a strategic correctional policy, by reducing recidivism rates. Until the system is held accountable for a reduction in recidivism rates nothing meaninful will happen in terms of system transformation. So we put this objective on the annual evaluation of Directors of Corrections, Wardens and Parole Supervisors. What specific products or initiatives would you like to see emerge? Directors of Corrections/Wardens spend little time thinking outside the box. For those that want to do things better they need political "covering". I would like to see innovative methods developed to transform the work force and provide covering for them to do the right thing. What else? Let's just "get'er done". Jack Cowley

Jack and Bob, thanks so much for yor comments and especially for being the first brave ones to get the ball rolling on the forum! 

In reading your responses, Jack, I was wondering if you could say more about how you would want to "reprogram" the workforce and what "providing covering for them to do the right thing" would involve.  What would be the key areas to focus on, from your experience?  I'd love to hear your ideas.

And Bob, I was particularly interested in the idea of "aligning incentives for all stakeholders" based on various criteria.  Would you be able to provide an example of that and perhaps some ways that you have found that to be effective?

Thanks!

Jennifer