On May 31–June 2, 2023, NIC brought researchers, practitioners, community stakeholders and service providers together to review and reflect on current information and resources related to gender-responsive approaches in corrections and explore what new resources are needed. Attendees were encouraged to present findings on the present state of gender-responsive corrections and to provide NIC with feedback about the direction that its future work in this area might take over the next 3–5 years. Questions explored during the meeting included the following:

• How do you assess the state of current practice about gender-responsive management and services for justice-involved women?
• What are recent developments and emerging issues (including public policy changes) that affect women involved with the criminal justice system and what are effective corrections responses to them?
• What products/services should NIC revise, update, or add?
• What else can NIC do to institutionalize change regarding working with women affected by the criminal justice system?

The meeting resulted in an action plan to guide NIC’s work focused on gender-responsive corrections moving forward and plans for the development of a Gender-Responsive Network.

Since the late 1980s, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), in collaboration with external partners, has been formulating assistance strategies to address the needs of women in the criminal justice system. These strategy were built on developing research and knowledge in relevant areas, creating strategically focused training, and sharing information with the field. The results of those efforts are the range of activities and products about justice-involved women and gender-responsive approaches to corrections that NIC has been providing to corrections staff throughout the correctional continuum since the project began.

As correctional practice continues to evolve, NIC aims to ensure the ongoing delivery of the most effective and humane management of justice-involved women that is currently possible and to further attend to the reduction of crime in communities and recidivism among justice-involved women.

On April 16-19, 2023, the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) convened its 2023 Annual Training Conference, hosted by the Kansas Prisoner Review Board. APAI is the only membership organization dedicated to parole and releasing authorities to enhance public safety. The theme of the conference was “Balancing Hope, Fairness, & Accountability for Stronger Communities.” The conference included releasing authorities from other countries, such as South Africa, Canada, England, and Wales. This conference focused on the challenges and accomplishments of paroling authorities across the United States.  Workshops included topics on “Building an Electronic Pardon Process,” “Interstate Compact for Parole Board Members,” and “Understanding Systematic Racism: Keys to More Effective Supervision of Individuals of African Descent.”

Every year at the conference, APAI hosts an award luncheon to recognize practitioners’ work with paroling authorities across the United States. These awards, such as the Dr. Kenneth Walker Community Service Award for outstanding community service by a parole board member and the Ben Baer Award for dedication to truth-in-sentencing practices, are often named after pioneers in parole. Another honor awarded at the conference is the “President’s Award.” This award is given to an individual or organization that has made at least a single significant contribution either to the field of parole or to APAI. This year’s recipient was NIC Community Services Division Chief (A) Robbye Braxton. 

Braxton was honored for her work at NIC in advocating for and developing NIC’s Structured Decision Making Framework (SDMF) Model. Over the past 8 years, she has overseen the implementation of the SDMF model for 12 states, small and large. In addition, while at NIC, Braxton developed the nation’s first training program for parole board members, executives, and chairs. Both of these efforts have led to the advancement, professionalism, and use of evidence-based practices of parole boards throughout the country.

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) met with Regional Director Gomez and Warden Swaney for an ICP review at Federal Correctional Institution Manchester. Proceedings included discussions with NIC Correctional Program Specialist Evelyn Bush, where she shared with Bureau employees information about NIC services and resources available to state and federal criminal justice agencies. Highlights covered training to address leadership skills, correctional competencies, and professional development.

“I really appreciated engaging with facility supervisors, marketing NIC resources, and learning more about the Bureau,” Bush says. “There was great information exchange both with the facility staff and the regional managers and staff who helped coordinate my trip and made me feel welcome. Big thanks to Warden Swaney for the hospitality!”

On April 17, 2023, the National Institute of Corrections, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the faculty of the National Sheriffs’ Institute joined together at the FBI Training Academy, Hall of Valor, to recognize Correctional Program Specialist Panda Adkins for her ten years of outstanding service in support of the nation’s jails.

“Panda has played a critical role in grounding the work of the National Institute of Corrections Jails Division in cutting-edge initiatives, including Strategic Inmate Management curriculum and training and the expansion of the National Sheriff’s Institute Leadership and Jail Administration courses being delivered at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy,” said Stephen Amos, chief of the NIC Jails Division. “We are grateful for her leadership and dedication to service,” said Director (A) Alix M. McLearen, Ph.D.

Since receiving the award, Ms. Adkins has transitioned to her new role as the Program Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Jail and Justice Support Center, which is co-administered by the National Institute of Corrections and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Jails and Justice Support Center is a national training and technical assistance hub created to guide jail administrators in establishing safe and humane correctional environments that effectively serve residents, visitors, and staff. The Center will deploy a cadre of subject matter experts to define constitutionally sound standards of practice and core competencies for jail facilities that draw upon consent decrees, Bureau of Justice Statistics jail mortality data, and other relevant research. The Center will then work directly with jails nationwide to conduct individualized assessments and deliver actionable recommendations for aligning existing practices, protocols, and training with constitutional standards and best practices.

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation is one of the latest graduating classes of the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Correctional Leadership Development (CLD) Series. At the time of their participation, the agency was involved in a major restructuring project, had significant staffing issues, and was receiving outside help to assist with some of the department’s operations.

“[CLD] is truly about the impact it can have on an agency,” says Jim Wiseman, a facilitator for the CLD program. “With qualified staff, organizations can maneuver themselves into better positions to meet their goals and address organizational needs.”

West Virginia’s participation in CLD helped the agency to:

1. Collapse silos among affected agencies to facilitate the department’s transition to its current status as the West Virginia Division of Corrections within the Cabinet Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety
2. Enhance their ability to implement succession plans thanks to the active involvement of executive-level sponsors in the success of Action Learning Project (ALP) teams and members
3. Target high-performing staff for further leadership roles and development within the department

While not attributed directly to CLD, several participants from the West Virginia cohort are also noted for having received promotions within the department while participating in the program.

Succession planning, or identifying current, highly qualified staff within an organization to take on new roles, has long been a challenge for corrections. NIC developed the CLD series in part to help organizations address their leadership capacity or the number of qualified staff equipped with skills to lead teams, manage complex projects, and represent the organization at senior levels.

The full CLD virtual program, of which the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation took part, consists of multi-session virtual instructor-led training, including intersession activities between each live class. In the 3 to 6 months between phases 1 and 2, program participants participate in leadership activities and receive coaching. Participants also complete an agency-specific action learning plan, a unique feature of CLD that involves participation from agency leadership to have those in the CLD program work in teams to address real issues that an agency faces.

The National Institute of Corrections offers corrections staff much more than the CLD program. Frontline supervisors, mid-level managers, and executives each have dedicated programs targeted to the roles and responsibilities of their position. Like the CLD series, some courses are available both in person and virtually.

Agencies interested in requesting leadership training for their staff are encouraged to visit NIC’s topic webpage on leadership development in corrections to find the program best suited for their agency and to learn how to apply.