Corrections Today articles from August 2003

Corrections Today archives from August 2003

Re-entry and reintegration--what is corrections' role?(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... States across the nation are experiencing extraordinary fiscal crises that are prompting governors and legislatures to recommend dramatic cuts to all areas of state government. Correctional departments have not been immune to these cuts and, in...

Embracing effective programming for offender re-entry.(Commentary)
August 1, 2003... It is my pleasure to be the guest coordinator for this edition of Corrections Today. Our focus is offenders re-entering the community and I am pleased that the authors in this issue have shown a good balance of treatment and accountability that...

Correctional officers save woman from freezing water.(Best in the Business)
August 1, 2003... Leaving work on a cold day in the middle of January, Cpl. Ed Walker and correctional officers David Barnes and Walter Vines of the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tenn., could have never imagined what their afternoon would turn...

Navigating the federal bureaucracy.(Legislative Issues)
August 1, 2003... Even after working in Washington, D.C., for several years, it is still easy to understand why people across the nation are intimidated by the prospect of navigating the immense federal bureaucracy. For many members of the American Correctional...

Legal immigrants can be jailed.(National News Briefs)
August 1, 2003... The Supreme Court has ruled that legal immigrants who face deportation because of a past conviction can be jailed automatically without bail, USA Today reports. The 5-4 decision, written by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, applies to foreigners...

Study cites legislation too tough on ex-inmates.(National News Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... More than 625,000 former inmates will be re-entering society this year, part of a record flow of inmates who will face obstacles in finding work, attending school and acquiring housing because of state legislation promoted to be tough on crime,...

Living with an "X" on your back: released and no place to go.(Speak Out)
August 1, 2003... This year, Congressman Mark Souder (R-Ind.) and I reintroduced the Public Safety Exoffender Self-Sufficiency Act of 2003. We introduced this bipartisan legislative initiative because successfully reintegrating ex-offenders back into society is...

Visitation restrictions upheld in Mich.(State News)
August 1, 2003... The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a set of prison inmate visitation regulations in Michigan, rejecting the claims of inmates and their friends and family members that the rules were unconstititional, according to the Criminal Justice Newsletter....

N.Y. Court supports DNA registry addition.(State News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Last month, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that an expansion made by Gov. George Pataki and the state Legislature to the state's DNA registry for criminals in 1999 was legal, reported the Associated Press. The 6-0 decision came after an...

Work release manager, court services.(Job Bank)
August 1, 2003... Work Release Alachua County, Fla. Bachelor's degree with major course work in criminal justice, public administration, behavioral sciences, counseling, social work or related field, and four years progressively responsible related...

The pay-to-stay debate: inmates must take financial responsibility.(Inmate Fees)
August 1, 2003... In responding to the continuing upward spiral of financing jail operations, William Hackel, former Macomb County, Mich., sheriff, and the Macomb County Board of Commissioners in 1985 implemented one of the nation's first inmate pay-to-stay...

Inmate user fees: fiscal fix or mirage?(Inmate Fees)
August 1, 2003... As states struggle with difficult budget choices in the face of looming deficits, some are considering charging inmates for their "room and board." While it may be tempting to levy such fees, as is being proposed in New York and Massachusetts,...

Opening Session events.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Nashville, Staying In Tune with the Times! If you're an avid music lover who enjoys basking in the warmth of southern hospitality and relishes plenty of down-home fun and excitement, then Nashville, Tennessee is the place for you, as this...

Program of events: "The Changing Face of Corrections".(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Shown below is a listing of the sessions, workshops and major events of the 133rd Congress of Correction. Be sure to check your Program Book and Exhibit Guide at the Congress for the room locations and updates for all events. SATURDAY,...

Closing Plenary Session -- a crossfire debate on the death penalty.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Over the years the American Correctional Association has brought the Congress to a close with its annual Closing Plenary Session that features distinguished speakers who explore questions, challenges and trends that have a significant impact on...

Monday Night Exhibit Hall Reception.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... "CHILLI PEPPER--A HOT NIGHT!" Monday, August 11, 2003 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Exhibit Hall No place will be hotter than the Exhibit Hall in Nashville as ACA is cooking up something that...

Exhibit Hall Specialty Break: Grand Ol' Country.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Tuesday, August 12, 2003 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Exhibit Hall Do you enjoy the best in country music entertainment and revel in good ol' fashioned excitement? If so, then join us in...

Grand Prize Giveaway Game.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Wednesday, August 13, 2003 * 12:45 p.m. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Exhibit Hall How would you like to win and leave the Congress in a blaze of glory? Well, here's your chance, as ACA is giving away a brand new Saturn...

E.R. Cass Award Banquet Reception.(133rd Congress of Correction)
August 1, 2003... Wednesday, August 13, 2003 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Delta Ballroom ACA honors corrections' finest professionals at the 2003 E.R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award Banquet during the 133rd...

Iowa implements mental health re-entry program.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... In July 1999, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that more than 250,000 jail and prison inmates--16 percent of the incarcerated population--had or were known to have had a major mental illness. While that trend continues in most...

NIC provides practitioners skills to help offenders with re-entry.(CT Feature)(United States. National Institute of Corrections)
August 1, 2003... The National Institute of Corrections' Offender Workforce Development Specialist training program is a comprehensive curriculum designed to increase participants' ability to provide adult offenders and ex-offenders with the skills required for...

Probation, parole and public safety: the need for principled practices versus faddism and circular policy development.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... Numerous elected officials, as well as the general public, have historically been irresolute in their support for traditional probation and parole programs. (1) As well, the storied history of probation and parole abounds with debate regarding...

Citizens' circles: community collaboration in re-entry.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... Today in corrections, there is a tremendous amount of focus on offender re-entry. Within a short time span, a national dialogue has emerged that calls for a major re-examination of how correctional systems prepare offenders to return home as...

Accountability through innovation and collaboration.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... Four words have worked their way into the lexicon of probation and parole/community corrections: cooperate, coordinate, collaborate and partnership. It is amusing and noteworthy that these same initials, CCCP, at one time stood for the Union of...

The Dynamic Supervision Project: improving the community supervision of sex offenders.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... Community supervision and the management of sex offenders pose great concern to parole and probation officers, correctional administrators and the general public. This area, however, seems to create more questions than answers. Every day, many...

Re-entry statistics now available on BJS Web site.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, at least 95 percent of all state inmates will be released from prison at some point; nearly 80 percent will be released to parole supervision. After years of prison populations expanding, the...

The Pennsylvania approach to re-entry.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... More inmates are leaving prisons and jails now than at any other time in the nation's history. In 2001, nearly 600,000 inmates were released from state and federal prisons. Of these, 10,500 inmates were released from Pennsylvania state prisons...

An initial comparison of graduates and terminated clients in America's largest re-entry court.(CT Feature)
August 1, 2003... Richland County, Ohio, is located in the north-central region of the state and has a population of 129,000. There are three cities, seven villages and 18 townships within the 497-square-mile county. Mansfield, the largest of the three cities,...

Implementing victims' rights: why corrections professionals should care.
August 1, 2003... Corrections professionals carry an overwhelming amount of responsibilities--from housing and supervising offenders at various security levels, to administering multiple programs and treatment for offenders, and supervising them in the...

Adding crime victims to the re-entry equation.
August 1, 2003... Many respected, corrections professionals find it easy to simply acknowledge that crimes have victims. At the same time, these professionals find it difficult to see benefits for corrections becoming more victim-centered in philosophy and...

The Impact of Crime program in a jail setting.
August 1, 2003... A group of 20 adult male inmates assemble in a classroom, ready to begin the day's events. The atmosphere is solemn and emotions are in turmoil. For the past week, these inmates have participated in an Impact of Crime program at the Weld County...

Chaplaincy: facing new- and old-challenges.
August 1, 2003... Editor's Note: This article is the second of a three-part series written by members of the American Correctional Chaplains Association about the role of chaplains in the corrections community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

Theme: reaching beyond the borders: reshaping justice systems.(134th Congress at Correction, Chicago)
August 1, 2003... Editor's Note: The following is a draft of the theme, goals and major sessions for the 134th Congress of Correction. Goals: * To affirm and value the contribution of a diverse work force * To promote collaboration among the various...

ACA's highest honor.(E.R. Cass Award)(American Correctional Association)
August 1, 2003... The E.R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award was created in 1962 in honor of Edward R. Cass, who devoted more than 50 years of his life to corrections. Serving as the American Correctional Association's general secretary for 40 consecutive...

A proclamation: National Correctional Employees Week.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Whereas, correctional employees in the United States, and around the globe, are dedicated to the protection of the public, humane treatment of offenders and the safety of their colleagues, and [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whereas, women and...

Solicitation of candidates for the 2004 election.
August 1, 2003... The ACA Nominating Committee requests that all affiliates, chapters and individual members submit suggested candidates for officers, members of the Board of Governors and Delegate Assembly, and seats on the Commission on Accreditation for...

You did it!!(Membership News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The American Correctional Association proudly presents the Missouri Correctional Association the 2003 Blanche L. LaDu Award. Each year, ACA presents this prestigious award to the dual membership chapter with the largest percentage of member...

Welcome new members.(Membership News)(American Correctional Association)
August 1, 2003... ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER KENTUCKY -- Federal Bureau of Prisons MINNESOTA -- Minnesota Correctional Facility-Moose Lake NEW JERSEY -- Isles Inc. NORTH CAROLINA -- Sisters of Mercy Health Designs OHIO -- Corrections Medical...

Supreme Court decisions will impact corrections.(Judicial News)
August 1, 2003... This past spring, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down two decisions that will have a big impact on federal, state and local correctional policies. The first opinion challenged the constitutionality of three-strikes laws, while the second...

Offender Rehabilitation in Practice.(Bookshelf)(Book Review)
August 1, 2003... Offender Rehabilitation in Practice, edited by Gary A. Bernfeld, David P. Farrington and Alan W. Leschied, John Wiley, 2001, 287 pp. During times of budget shortfalls, spending for rehabilitation programs within corrections is usually the...

Looking to expand your horizons and accept new challenges?
August 1, 2003... The American Correctional Association, is seeking someone with correctional experience to serve as the assistant director of the Standards and Accreditation Department. The incumbent will interact with correctional administrators and other...

ACA resources prepare staff, offenders for reintegration process.
August 1, 2003... Correctional staff and offenders face many challenges in preparing offenders for their return to the community. Make this process a little easier with three great ACA resources. Heading Home: Offender Reintegration Into the Family offers a...

Sex offender programs in the community: the United Kingdom experience.(Probation and Parole Forum)
August 1, 2003... During the Management of Dangerous Sex Offenders workshop, sponsored by the Conference Permanente Europeenne de la Probation in collaboration with the National Probation Service (NPS) for England and Wales Jan. 30 and 31, NPS presented its...

Corrections calendar.(Calendar)
August 1, 2003... * American Probation and Parole Association, 28th Annual Training Institute, Aug. 24-27, Sheraton City Centre, Cleveland. Contact Carl Wicklund at (859) 244-8216; or visit www.appa-net.org. * Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency, 74th...

Com-Tec Inc.(Profile)(Company Profile)
August 1, 2003... Com-Tec Inc., a security control system integrator located in Appleton, Wis., was founded in 1970, growing from a local sound and communications contractor into the largest detention security control systems integrator in the state of...

Focusing on employment: NIC's career center project.(NIC Update)(National Institute of Corrections)
August 1, 2003... In today's work force climate, many people find that jobs are increasingly difficult to obtain and maintain. Add a criminal record, few job skills and an unstable work history to that equation and an individual's future employment opportunities...

BI Inc.(Private Sector News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Putnam County, W.Va., selected BI Inc. to supply electronic monitoring technology for sentenced offenders who are serving time in a home detention program. BI provides community-based offender monitoring tools and inmate re-entry treatment...

Turner Construction Co.(Private Sector News)
August 1, 2003... Turner Construction Co. has announced several promotions for the Chicago business district. John A. DiCiurcio was named executive vice president, Stephen W. Fort was named vice president and business manager, and Jeffrey L. Loyall was named...

DLR Group.(Private Sector News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... DLR Group teamed with the Anderson Mason Dale Architects and was selected by El Paso County, Colo., to design its new $26 million Judicial Annex. The project includes eight courtrooms for the Fourth Judicial District, sheriff's offices, Court...

University of Texas Medical Branch.(Private Sector News)(electronic medical record)(University of Texas Medical Branch)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The Correctional Managed Care division of the University of Texas Medical Branch announced that the Digital Medical Services project, which links correctional health care clinics via a centralized telemedicine and electronic medical record...

NIJ's less-than-lethal flash-bang round project.(Technology Update)
August 1, 2003... What if you were confronted by a flash of light so bright that it rivaled looking directly into the sun and were simultaneously blasted by a bang that reached a painful 170 decibels? You certainly would be disoriented; your behavior, greatly...