Thinking for a Change (T4C) is not designed to be used with individuals assessed as low-risk; rather for those identified as medium- to high-risk. If you choose to use the lessons as you describe, we ask that you do not call the program T4C, because such changes (use with a different population or in a different manner) violate the fidelity of the program as it was designed and evaluated.
NIC hosted its second in-person workgroup meeting to solicit professional knowledge and experience from previously identified subject matter experts in community corrections. Input from these professionals will help inform the development of training concepts to be used in forthcoming Staff Sexual Misconduct training. The first of three products, Training for Executives, will be piloted in October 2024. Training for Trainers and Training for Staff curriculums will be piloted and released in 2025.
From March 11-15, 2024, twenty-three sheriffs from across the country participated in the 121st session of NIC’s National Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) Leadership Development Course held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. This program, provided by NIC in collaboration with the Major County Sheriffs of America, prepares first-term sheriffs for success by strengthening their leadership skills. The NSI is the only executive leadership institute explicitly designed for sheriffs.
The NSI provides training on effective leadership within the Sheriff’s Office, the local criminal justice system, and their community and prepares sheriffs for all matters affecting their office. In addition to the Leadership Development Course, the NSI currently consists of the Jail Administration Course, which is open to sheriffs in all terms and enhances the knowledge of sheriffs’ responsibilities in leading and supporting the staff and operations of a correctional facility.
A third NSI course focused on communication in executive leadership will be developed in fiscal year 2024 and made available to the nation’s sheriffs in fiscal year 2025. For more information, please visit https://info.nicic.gov/nsi/.
At the 2024 National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections Conference in March, the National Institute of Corrections delivered a presentation on the Facilitated Dialogue Training Program. Facilitated dialogue, also known as victim offender dialogue (VOD), is a victim-initiated and victim-driven process that brings together crime victims and the individuals who have harmed them to find ways to promote healing and resolution.
The NIC presentation covered national standards for VOD, the 20 essential principles of VOD, and the new curriculum now available from NIC to provide training to VOD facilitators. An advanced course on Sexual Assault VOD will be part of the new curriculum.
Learn more about facilitated dialogue at https://nicic.gov/resources/resources-topics-and-roles/topics/resources-victim-offender-dialogue.
On March 11–14, 2024, in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR) and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), NIC delivered Phase One of its Correctional Leadership Development (CLD) series to an energetic group of aspiring senior-level leaders. The series convened at Florida International University’s (FIU) Madison-Maidique campus in Miami, Florida. Captain Tara Hinnant-Johnson, MDCR, in collaboration with Major Jenny McCook, BCSO, coordinated Phase One in concert with NIC Program Manager Leslie S. LeMaster and National Programs Advisor, Jim Wiseman. Captain Hinnant-Johnson performed above and beyond with specially arranged on-site logistics and support for the program. Executives and senior leaders from MDCR and BCSO participated in opening session activities, demonstrating their personal and agency commitments to the participants and the program’s importance. Twenty-seven participants are participating in the series.
