DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS

U.S. Department of Justice 

National Institute of Corrections 

National Institute of Corrections 

Report to the

Nation FY 2011
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U.S. Department of Justice 

National Institute of Corrections 

320 First Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20534 

Morris L. Thigpen 

Director 

Thomas J. Beauclair 

Deputy Director 

Robert Brown 

Chief, Academy Division 

Jim Cosby 

Chief, Community Services Division 

Harry Fenstermaker 

Chief, Financial Management Division 

Virginia Hutchinson 

Chief, Jails Division 

Christopher Innes, Ph.D. 

Chief, Research and Information Services Division 

BeLinda Watson 

Chief, Prisons Division 

Donna Ledbetter 

Project Manager 

National Institute of Corrections 

www.nicic.gov 
National Institute of Corrections 

Report to the 

Nation FY 2011 

December 2011 

NIC Accession 

Number 025348 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents 

Letter From the Director .................................................................................................................................................................................... v
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About the National Institute of Corrections.................................................................................................................................................vii
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Reaching Out.......................................................................................................................................................................................................1
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Networks.....................................................................................................................................................................................................1
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Conference Workshops ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
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Outreach .....................................................................................................................................................................................................4
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International Leadership.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
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Supporting Corrections in the Field................................................................................................................................................................. 7
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Reentry ........................................................................................................................................................................................................8
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Pretrial, Probation, and Parole ............................................................................................................................................................... 9
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Facility Operations .................................................................................................................................................................................... 9
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Prison Rape Elimination Act..................................................................................................................................................................10
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Organizational Culture............................................................................................................................................................................11
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Corrections and Environmental Impact...............................................................................................................................................12
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Training Corrections Leaders for the Future................................................................................................................................................13
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NIC Learning Center ...............................................................................................................................................................................13
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NIC PREA Learning Center ....................................................................................................................................................................14
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Combined Learning Center Activity .....................................................................................................................................................15
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Center for Correctional Leadership and Management Studies......................................................................................................16
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Live Satellite/Internet Broadcast Series.............................................................................................................................................16
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Division Training ......................................................................................................................................................................................16
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Publications..............................................................................................................................................................................................24
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Continuing To Supply the Field With Information Resources...................................................................................................................25
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Prison Rape Elimination Act Resources..............................................................................................................................................25
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Information Center ..................................................................................................................................................................................25
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Technical Assistance.......................................................................................................................................................................................27
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Appendix ............................................................................................................................................................................................................29
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Letter From the Director 

Dear Colleagues, 

It is with great pleasure that I present to you the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Report to the Nation 

for fiscal year 2011. This last year has been very important for us because it has included a number of accomplishments that have enabled us to continue to assist the field of corrections effectively. 

One of our greatest achievements continues to be our ability to provide quality services to the field with a 

relatively small federal budget and staff. During lean economic times, it is more important than ever for us 

to operate efficiently and effectively, providing technical assistance, training, and information to the field— 

particularly as state, local, and municipal budgets continue to be reduced. 

To this end, we have made great strides to increase access to professional development and training, providing 327 training opportunities to over 9,403 correctional staff and leaders over the year. We have increased 

our access to over 20,000 current correctional research and operational materials designed to aid staff, 

supervisors, and managers in developing programs and implementing innovative correctional techniques 

in the field. 

There are many items that I am pleased to highlight in this report, including the relocation of the Robert J. 

Kutak library and National Corrections Academy to a new, renovated facility in Aurora, Colorado; the improvements NIC has made to enhance its communications; and the continued technical assistance that NIC 

provides to federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions as part of its core services. In the pages of this report, 

you will find information about these accomplishments while also learning more about our plans for the 

future. 

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the National Institute of Corrections. 

Sincerely, 

Morris L. Thigpen 

Director 

National Institute of Corrections 

Letter From the Director v

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the 

National Institute of Corrections 

Mission 

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is a center of learning, innovation, and leadership that shapes and 

advances effective correctional practice and public policy. 

Strategic Outcomes 

The outcomes of NIC’s activities contribute significantly to the achievement of the following state, local, and 

federal correctional goals and priorities: 

Effectively managed prisons, jails, and community corrections programs and facilities 

We will provide services in effective planning, management, and operations strategies that provide constitutional, ethical, humane, safe, and cost-effective prisons, jails, and community corrections programs and 

facilities. 

Enhanced organizational and professional performance in corrections 

We will provide education and training opportunities in management, leadership, and specialized areas based 

on value-centered principles and best practices that will continually enhance organizational and professional 

performance. 

Community, staff, and offender safety 

We will promote correctional practices and procedures that maximize the safety of the community, staff, 

and offenders; hold offenders accountable; and improve the likelihood of offenders choosing responsible, 

law-abiding behavior. 

Improved correctional practices through the exploration of trends and public policy issues 

We will promote the exploration of critical issues and the shaping of public policies that improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and humane quality of practices that impact corrections. 

Enhanced services through improved organizational and staff effectiveness 

We will provide opportunities for organizational and professional growth that enhance our services. We will 

implement a strategic management process that leads to improved organizational structure, management 

practices, and program planning that support the mission and vision, consistent with available resources. 

About the National Institute of Corrections vii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reaching Out 

T

he National Institute of Corrections (NIC) believes strongly in maintaining positive ties and accessible 

connections with its core audiences. Each fiscal year (FY), NIC does this through its core mission of 

providing technical assistance, training, and information to the corrections field, but it also relies heavily on its professional networks, website, and other outreach tools. 

Networks 

Federal Interagency Reentry Council 

In FY 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder convened the first meeting of the Federal Interagency Reentry 

Council, a collective of 19 federal agencies coming together to address public safety through cross-agency 

partnerships, collaborative programming, and effective interagency communication. So far, through the Council, NIC has made connections with agencies as diverse as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 

Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These partnerships help agencies connect their efforts effectively with the corrections field. 

Chief Jail Inspector Network 

Of the nation’s 50 states, 33 have some form of minimum jail standards and inspection programs. These are 

administered by state departments of corrections (DOC), freestanding commissions within the state, departments of health, or state sheriffs’ associations. Seeing a need for collaboration among professionals in this 

field, the members of these organizations came to NIC to request its support of their efforts by sponsoring 

Chief Jail Inspector Network meetings. As part of its longstanding support for jail standards as key to improving the nation’s jails, NIC agreed to hold the meetings and continues to do so today. During these meetings, 

members share ideas, learn of national standards issues, and develop strategies to address the challenges of 

implementing and sustaining standards and inspections programs. 

In addition to the annual 2-day network meeting, NIC sponsors an electronic discussion forum for the chief 

inspectors. The network and discussion forum have been highly successful at facilitating information sharing 

and problem solving among members. Also, network members provide invaluable assistance to NIC in developing documents and providing feedback on training focused on jail standards and inspection. 

The most recent network meeting took place in July 2011. Comments from members included the following: 

•	� “The PREA presentation was very informative and much needed. I came away with a better understanding, yet have more questions.” 

•	� “The sharing of information from other states’ standards on what works will assist in making positive 

changes.” 

•	� “This has always been a well-organized event and the members are willing to share their knowledge.” 

•	� “All facilities we serve will have access to the NIC resource disk I was provided.” 

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Large Jail Network 

Intended for jail administrators of facilities with an average daily population of 1,000 or more inmates, the NIC 

Large Jail Network (LJN) provides its members with the opportunity to share ideas and learn best practices in an 

environment that is safe and conducive to both personal growth and professional collaboration. Members are encouraged to share their experiences and seek the expertise and advice of others so that all may learn and benefit. 

LJN held 2 meetings in FY 2011, which were attended by staff from 55–60 jails from around the country as well 

as representatives from the American Jail Association (AJA) and the American Correctional Association (ACA). 

The March LJN meeting included several guest presenters. Attorney Bill Collins gave the annual legal update 

and addressed topics such as the current status of strip search litigation, use-of-force reporting, the Religious 

Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and investigations and followup. Lindsay Hayes reviewed the 

highlights of his newly released report National Study of Jail Suicide: 20 Years Later, a project funded in part by 

NIC. Andie Moss discussed the current status of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards and the 

development of an administrator’s toolkit to be issued by NIC for training and teaching staff how to handle PREA 

incidents. Dr. Michael Jones discussed how to use data more effectively in justifications and presentations. 

The September meeting was conducted mostly by the attendees themselves with presentations on the topics 

of staff issues—dealing with applicants, discipline and rumor control, and technology updates—and the Florida prescription drug epidemic and its impact on inmate housing. In response to their request for information 

on how to spot and deal with employee abuses of the Family Medical Leave Act, the attendees also received a 

presentation from the U.S. Department of Labor on the Act’s rules and regulations. Representatives from the 

AJA and ACA presented legislative updates. 

Both meetings facilitated a great deal of networking and problem solving among the participants. Each meeting provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss issues they encountered in the time between meetings. 

Pretrial Executive Network 

Directors of established pretrial services programs nationwide are invited to become part of NIC’s Pretrial 

Executive Network. The mission of the network is to promote pretrial services programming as an integral 

part of state and local criminal justice systems. Its goals are to make pretrial programming relevant in national criminal justice funding, support training and technical assistance, encourage expanded research in the 

pretrial field, and identify best and promising practices in the pretrial release and diversion fields. Highlights 

from FY 2011 include the following: 

•	� The Pretrial Executive Network identified the need for consistent and meaningful data to track individual 

pretrial services program performance. Current information on pretrial programming was limited and 

usually not descriptive of individual program outcomes. National data specific to pretrial program outcomes and performance would help individual programs measure their effectiveness in achieving goals 

and objectives and meeting the expectations of their respective justice systems. 

Consistent with public- and private-sector best practices, the network developed a comprehensive list of 

pretrial services program outcome measures, performance measures, and mission critical data that would 

best tie into an individual agency’s mission, local justice system needs, state and local bail laws, and 

national pretrial release standards. This list of measures and data now serves as the foundation of pretrial 

practice and the benchmark of success in the pretrial corrections field. 

2 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
NIC STAFF HIGHLIGHT 

Anita Pollard 

During a meeting with U.S. Public Health Service 

Commissioned Corps officers stationed at the 

Bureau of Prisons Central Office, Deputy Surgeon 

General Boris Lushniack presented National Institute 

of Corrections Correctional Health Manager Anita 

Pollard with an award of recognition for her efforts 

in recruiting members to pursue careers in health 

services. 

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•	� As a result of the network’s efforts, NIC published Measuring What Matters: Outcome and Performance 

Measures for the Pretrial Services Field and has made it available via the NIC website. 

•	� NIC proactively engaged the corrections field in dialogue about pretrial issues with the appearance of its 

staff on DC Public Safety, a national online radio broadcast focusing on public safety issues affecting the 

District of Columbia and the nation. The broadcast is now available online at http://media.csosa.gov/ 

podcast/audio/2011/09/national-institute-of-corrections-and-dc-pretrial-measuring-what-mattersdc-public-safety/. 

Association of Correctional Mental Health Administrators 

The Association of Correctional Mental Health Administrators (ACMHA) is NIC’s mental health network. 

The mission of this association is to help define, support, and advance the field of correctional mental health 

services through research, training, and dissemination of knowledge concerning evidence-based, innovative, and best practices in the field. Currently, the association’s efforts are focused within seven workgroups, 

including diagnostics, ethics/legal issues, research, segregation, self-harm/self-injurious offenders, suicide, 

and treatment. Steven Allen, Behavioral Health Director for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, serves 

as ACMHA’s Chair. Below is a brief list of highlights from the group during FY 2011:
�

•	� The annual meeting was held in Aurora, CO, on 

May 3–4, 2011. There were a total of 47 participants, which included representatives from 43 

state DOCs and 2 large jail systems (Philadelphia 

and New York City), and 2 representatives from 

the Bureau of Prisons. The 2-day agenda included 

presentations from Dr. Jeffrey Metzner of the 

University of Colorado, who presented on the 

Colorado Department of Correction Administration Segregation Report (published in October 

2010); Lindsay Hayes, who presented on prison 

suicide; and Nicole Jarrett of the Council of State 

Governments Justice Center, who presented on 

the Behavioral Health Framework. 

•	� The ACMHA Administrative Committee and Workgroup Chairs met on September 26–27, 2011, at NIC in 

Washington, DC. The highlight of this meeting was the establishment of a multiyear strategic plan. 

•	� The association’s newly established webpage went live in FY 2011 and can be found at http://community. 

nicic.gov/wikis/acmha/association-of-correctional-mental-health-administrators.aspx. 

Coalition of Public Correctional Pharmacy Directors 

The Coalition of Public Correctional Pharmacy Directors (CPCPD) is an NIC network of pharmacy directors 

representing 23 state departments of corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Its mission is to compare, 

share, network, and further unify the pharmaceutical health care of correctional institutions. It recognizes 

that correctional pharmacy is a specialty apart and unique from other practices of pharmacy. CPCPD members share their successes as well as failures, hoping that members will collaborate on best practices within 

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state-operated correctional pharmacy programs. Additionally, CPCPD strives to develop effective costcontainment strategies that help optimize pharmacy operations. 

In FY 2011, members of CPCPD participated in NIC’s first corrections pharmaceutical health care satellite/ 

Internet broadcast. The program addressed issues of appropriate and ethical pharmacy management, continuity of care for offenders reentering the community, and cost-saving methods of drug acquisition and pharmacy operations. NIC continues to support this group’s efforts and is currently helping them to establish a 

publicly accessible page on the NIC website. 

Conference Workshops 

NIC seizes every opportunity available, given its limited resources, to provide training and assistance to 

corrections practitioners. In FY 2011, NIC was able to train hundreds of correctional staff through its timely 

correctional workshops. Popular workshop topics included: 

•	� A session on the applications of “Dialogical Leadership” presented at the National Association of Blacks in 

Criminal Justice conference. 

•	� A presentation titled “Are You Committing Training Malpractice: Evidence-Based Workplace Learning” 

offered at the ACA, International Community Corrections Association, and International Association of 

Correctional Training Personnel conferences. 

•	� Continued partnership with ACA’s Committee on Correctional Training through cofacilitated workshops 

on Staff Performance Enhancement Trends at both the winter and summer ACA conferences. 

•	� Presentations on legal issues, crisis intervention teams/mentally ill offenders, and the Transition from 

Jail to Community (TJC) model at the AJA conference. 

•	� A presentation on evidence-based decisionmaking for the National Association of Counties. 

•	� Collaboration with the Correctional Security Network during its annual conference. NIC sessions included Conducting Security Audits, Emergency Preparedness, Operational Practices in Women’s Prisons, 

and Terrorism Information Sharing. In addition, NIC participated in a tour of the federal facility at Terre 

Haute near Indianapolis, IN. 

•	� A training session on the Systems Approach to Achieving Performance Excellence at the August 2011 

ACA conference. The presentation included an overview to states that may be interested in applying for 

projects that will help them improve agency performance. 

•	� A workshop on ethics for the North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents. 

Outreach 

NIC Website 

The NIC website has undergone significant upgrades in FY 2011. The website now has improved search 

capabilities, making it even easier to access information and request corrections research assistance online. 

4 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
The new persistent navigation bar and homepage menu also make it easier to register for training, request 

technical assistance, apply for cooperative agreements, and collaborate with other corrections practitioners 

through the NIC Corrections Community. Updates on NIC initiatives are also easily accessible through updated project pages, discussion networks, and public forums. 

Other innovative features include the website’s popular projects navigation. By clicking the Projects tab and 

then Popular Topics, website users can discover the top 10 most visited project areas on the NIC website. This 

simple navigation helps NIC stay abreast of the needs of the field and anticipate demand for its products. In 

FY 2011, more then 570,000 visitors accessed the NIC website. 

Corrections Community 

As part of its commitment to open government, NIC designated the Corrections Community as a space on its 

website where staff can quickly share achievements and update the field on the progress they make on their 

projects. The space encourages feedback and response from readers and is a catalyst for continual engagement with the corrections field. More than 195,000 visitors accessed the Corrections Community in FY 2011, 

and to date, the community has more than 16,700 members. These members have contributed to approximately 

32,663 discussions since July 2007. Combined with totals from the NIC website, NIC’s online visitors spent the 

equivalent of 1,525 days accessing NIC resources. 

NIC Mobile Application 

Now in beta is the newest addition to NIC’s lineup of tools to meet constituents wherever they are. It is NIC’s 

mobile application, and it includes many of the same features found on the NIC website but with the convenience of a mobile device. 

Links from the application’s homepage take users to new items in the library, upcoming trainings, news and 

announcements, and the NIC Information Center Help Desk. Additional links take application users to the 

NIC homepage, Corrections Community, and NIC Learning Center. 

NIC E-Newsletter 

Corrections from the Field, the NIC e-newsletter launched in June 2011, is the first official general corrections 

newsletter from the agency. The newsletter highlights initiatives, trainings, and events sponsored by NIC as 

well as developments in the field of corrections. FY 2011 topics included the use of technology in corrections, 

volunteerism in corrections, and the memorial announcement of the passing of Allen F. Breed, former NIC 

Director (1977–83). Newsletter articles are intentionally brief to stimulate dialogue and keep the field abreast 

of new trends. 

Mental Health Newsletter 

Corrections and Mental Health Update is NIC’s mental health newsletter. Noting the need in the field for 

current mental health research and its impact on corrections, NIC developed the newsletter for corrections 

practitioners, corrections health and mental health specialists, and interested citizens. NIC publishes the 

newsletter quarterly. 

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NIC Report to the Nation, FY 2010 

NIC BOARD HIGHLIGHT 

The first release of the NIC Report to the Nation was in Diane Williams 

FY 2011, highlighting NIC’s activities for the previous 

National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Advisory fiscal year. This landmark publication was NIC’s first Board Chairman Diane Williams was named a 

attempt in several years to develop a single publication “Champion of Change” by the Obama administration 

that summarizes its many achievements and mile- in fiscal year 2011. Ms. Williams’ receipt of the honor 

hails her work as president and chief executive stones for the nation. 

officer of the Safer Foundation, an Illinois-based 

organization whose mission is to provide reentering offenders with services and support, such as 

International Leadership employment, education, and housing assistance, 

that will help them restart their lives and reduce 

In FY 2011, NIC led two projects that shared U.S. recidivism. 

correctional leadership learning with international In a 3-year study, researchers from Loyola University 

partners: Developing Correctional Leaders for Mexico found that reentering offenders under the Safer 

Foundation programs had a 34-percent lower rate of and Developing Correctional Leaders for Lebanon. 

recidivism than other reentering offenders in Illinois The projects were joint efforts among NIC, the U.S. who did not participate in the programs. In a stateDepartment of State, and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). ment for the White House, Ms. Williams noted that 

Highlights from the training included:	� the Safer Foundation helped more than 3,800 people 

become employed. “In an economy like we face,” 

•	� Developing Correctional Leaders for Mexico: she said, “... that’s not a decent thing to do, but we 

believe it’s a necessary thing to do.” 

❍❍ Linked to the Mexican government’s strategic 

plan. 

❍❍ Designed to develop a cadre of more than 100 senior 

correctional leaders for Mexico’s correctional system. 

❍❍ Offered five times in 2011: three times at Beaumont, TX; twice at Victorville, CA. 

❍❍ BOP complexes (prisons with multiple security levels in one location) were used to illustrate the dayto-day insights required to lead and manage correctional facilities of the complexity and size found in 

the BOP. 

❍❍ Based on NIC’s Correctional Leadership Development model. 

❍❍ NIC’s Core Competency Model and all curricula have been translated into Spanish. 

❍❍ A second year of training is planned. 

• Developing Correctional Leaders for Lebanon: 

❍❍ Four programs are anticipated. 

❍❍ Anticipated to follow the Mexico project framework. 

❍❍ Anticipated to lead to the development of more than 100 senior Lebanese correctional leaders. 

❍❍ Completion of the project will include translation of NIC’s Core Competency Model and curricula into 

Arabic. 

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Supporting Corrections in the Field 

During fiscal year (FY) 2011, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) sponsored many ongoing 

initiatives to support corrections professionals throughout the nation and in particular regions. These 

initiatives are designed to help corrections professionals in the field: 

•	� Help inmates transition from jail or prison to their communities and stay productively employed in the 

community.
�

•	� Improve decisionmaking by parole boards and other corrections professionals in the pretrial, probation, 

and parole fields. 

•	� Improve facility operations by developing and implementing innovative cost-containment strategies. 

•	� Enforce the provisions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and gather the information required 

under the act.
�

•	� Improve their organizational culture through achieving performance excellence, workplace learning, and 

staff performance enhancement. 

• Share information and develop strategies regarding environmental initiatives in the corrections field. 

See table 1 for a ranking of corrections topics. 

Table 1. Ranking of Corrections Topics by Importance Among Corrections Practitioners Surveyed 

Top 10 Overall 

All 

Community 

Corrections 

Rank 

Jails 

Rank 

Prisons 

Rank 

Other 

Rank 

Rank 

1 Funding/Budget 1.0 1 2 1 3 

2 Leadership/Management 

Development 2.0 4 1 2 6 

3 Offender Services and Programs 3.0 2 7 5 1 

4 Staff Performance Enhancement 4.0 6 3 4 4 

5 Agency Staffing	� 5.0 9 4 3 9 

6 Offender Risk Reduction 6.0 3 6 2 

7 Managing Special Offenders 7.0 7 5 7 5 

8 Internal Agency Development 

and Management 8.0 8 8 10 7 

9 New Technologies 9.0	� 9 8 

10 Agency Workforce 10.0 4 10 

The table details results from NIC’s most recent environmental scan. It shows rankings for corrections topics by importance as 

noted by more than 1,000 respondents. 

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Reentry 

Transition/Reentry Initiatives 

Much of what NIC does has an effect on offenders’ transition from jail or prison and their return to their home 

communities. In FY 2000, NIC began investing in specific transition initiatives. Now, 11 years later, NIC has 

developed two highly esteemed offender reentry/transition models that are currently being used throughout 

the country: Transition from Prison to Community (TPC) and Transition from Jail to Community (TJC). 

Transition from Prison to Community 

The purpose of the TPC initiative is to help jurisdictions 

look strategically at their local reentry process. This 

focus helps jurisdictions improve both internal operations and external community partnerships that foster 

the successful, crime-free return of offenders back into 

the community. Now in its final year at NIC, the TPC 

initiative is working on multiagency ownership concerns, speaking to the TPC/TJC principle that offender 

reentry is not successfully addressed only by the corrections agency but in coordination with partners from 

other public agencies responsible for areas like housing, public and mental health, substance abuse, and 

other community-based services and programs. The 

last aspect of this initiative will be assisting jurisdictions 

in the sustainability and maintenance of their reentry 

programs once NIC-funded assistance concludes. 

Transition from Jail to Community 

Under the TJC initiative, six local jurisdictions are completing the first round of assistance, with another set of 

six local jurisdictions to be selected early in FY 2012. 

As a result of the work of these jurisdictions using the 

NIC STAFF HIGHLIGHT 

Jimmy L. Cosby 

In fiscal year 2011, Jimmy L. Cosby was named 

chief of the National Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s) 

Community Services Division. He joined NIC after an 

extensive career in Tennessee corrections, where 

he served as a parole officer and regional director before becoming Assistant Commissioner for 

Rehabilitative Services of the Tennessee Department 

of Correction. As Assistant Commissioner, he helped 

develop the Tennessee Reentry Collaborative, the 

first formally recognized reentry program in the state 

of Tennessee. 

Top NIC initiatives reported throughout 

the nation included: 

•	� Prison Rape Elimination Act. 

•	� Evidence-Based Decisionmaking for Local 

Criminal Justice Systems. 

•	� Direct Supervision. 

TJC model, NIC has developed the TJC Implementation Toolkit, a Web-based program that leads jurisdictions 

through the initiation and maintenance of the TJC model. Assessments are now being administered, and 

programs are being targeted to populations with a high risk to reoffend. In addition, four jurisdictions have 

implemented the cognitive curriculum, Thinking for a Change, for use in jail and community settings, and 

there is impressive sharing and collaboration between jails and partner agencies in the community. 

Offender Employment Retention 

The Offender Employment Retention initiative supports the development of programs in local jurisdictions 

that assess offenders at high risk for job loss, identify specific job-loss indicators, and then provide support to 

break the chain of events that too often result in an offender’s termination from a job. A major component of 

this initiative is NIC’s Offender Employment Retention Specialist training designed for individuals involved in 

developing and managing offender workforce programs. 

8 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
Correctional Industries 

The Correctional Industries (CI) initiative was developed in FY 2011 and serves as a catalyst to provide CI 

staff with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to identify relevant organizational priorities, establish 

strategic objectives, identify measurable goals, establish collaborative partnerships, use current labor market 

information, and provide specialized services and programming that support offenders’ long-term attachment 

to the labor force. NIC is currently developing a new training for CI directors that is scheduled to be piloted in 

April 2012. 

Pretrial, Probation, and Parole 

Parole Board Decisionmaking Model Development 

During FY 2011, NIC has continued its commitment to promoting evidence-based practices in corrections by 

expanding its reach to the analysis of parole board decisionmaking. Current NIC research includes studying 

parole board decision outcome data to determine whether using a parole board decisionmaking model developed in Canada can lead to an increase in the number of successful parole releases. In collaboration with 

Canadian partners, NIC is piloting the use of this Canadian model in Ohio and Connecticut. 

Evidence-Based Decisionmaking in Local Criminal Justice Systems 

In June 2008, NIC launched a three-phase initiative to address Evidence-Based Decisionmaking in Local 

Criminal Justice Systems (EBDM). The goal of phase 1 of the initiative was to build a framework that 

would follow offenders from arrest through final disposition and discharge that would result in more 

collaborative, evidence-based decisionmaking and practices in local criminal justice systems. Phase 2 of 

the initiative, the planning and engagement phase, involved selecting seven jurisdictions to serve as “seed” 

or test sites. Those sites are Mesa County, CO; Grant County, IN; Ramsey County, MN; Yamhill County, OR; 

City of Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA; Eau Claire County, WI; and Milwaukee County, WI. 

As phase 2 closes, funding will be available for at least three jurisdictions to move to phase 3, full implementation of the EBDM initiative, in FY 2012. However, NIC will continue to provide technical assistance and training to the remaining four jurisdictions; it is clear that each of the jurisdictions has achieved varying degrees of 

success and has demonstrated different strengths and barriers to planning and implementation. 

Facility Operations 

Cost Containment 

Funding corrections operations and facilities has never been popular with the public. Schools, parks, 

emergency services, bridges, roads, and other projects are generally more appealing to taxpayers. NIC’s 

annual environmental scans and needs assessments of the corrections landscape nearly always reflect this 

difficulty. Corrections officials usually rank budgets, funding levels, and managing costs at or near the top 

as a priority. NIC responded to this need by first employing its more traditional strategies for disseminating 

cost-containment information. Later, it was decided that a Web-based resource would be the best way to get 

the most information out to the largest number of people in the most flexible manner. 

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Substantial progress was made in FY 2011 toward creating a Web-based cost-containment information resource and included the following milestones: 

•	� A subject-matter-expert group was impaneled to guide the project, offer comment and expertise, and 

translate private-sector cost-containment strategies into the language of corrections. The panel includes 

representation from corrections, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Moss Group (the cooperative agreement 

awardee tasked with assisting in the completion of the project), and NIC. 

•	� A field assessment was conducted to obtain information about and develop a sketch of current costcontainment strategies being implemented by corrections agencies. Thirty of fifty state corrections departments responded to a questionnaire, providing substantial and relevant information that will be used 

to enhance the project. 

•	� The panel drafted and reviewed a key cost-containment tool for the Web-based cost-containment center. 

This tool is now in the final stages of development. 

•	� A workshop was presented at the ACA summer 2011 conference to introduce the cost-containment center 

and solicit input about the concept and how the field might use such a tool. 

•	� Work began on the website “buildout” of the Web-based center and the development of a rollout plan. 

Systems Approach for Organizational Performance 

One of NIC’s newest initiatives, the Systems Approach for Organizational Performance, assists states with 

the planning and development of a major project undertaking in their agency. In FY 2011, NIC began working 

with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services in the realignment of its inmate population in preparation for reentry. 

Prison Rape Elimination Act 

Throughout FY 2011, NIC continued its work to 

implement Section 5 of PREA, 42 USC 15604, which 

mandates NIC to provide information, assistance, 

and training and education to federal, state, and local 

authorities responsible for the prevention, investigation, and punishment of instances of prison rape. While 

work progressed on the development of several products, including components of a legal issues toolkit and 

a policy development guide for agencies housing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex offenders, 

NIC received and processed more than 30 technical 

assistance requests under PREA. As has been the case 

since NIC began work on the PREA initiative in 2003, 

the field has continued to make progress in addressing 

staff sexual misconduct and inmate-on-inmate sexual 

assault. 

NIC STAFF HIGHLIGHT 

Dee Halley 

Correctional Program Specialist Deborah “Dee” 

Halley received a Special Recognition Award from 

the Bureau of Prisons for her work overseeing National Institute of Corrections (NIC) activities relating 

to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Since 

2004, Ms. Halley has managed a budget of $9 million 

and addressed more than 280 technical assistance 

requests and more than 149 training events focused 

on PREA awareness, system planning, and policy 

development. Today, she continues those efforts and 

has been instrumental in developing NIC’s comprehensive PREA training and website resources. 

Ms. Halley also leads NIC’s cost-containment initiative, which helps corrections organizations analyze 

their spending and look for effective ways to reduce 

costs. 

The fiscal year (FY) 2010 award was announced and 

presented in the summer of FY 2011. 

10 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
During the past few years, requesters have begun asking for more complex assistance. Instead of simply 

introducing PREA to practitioners, NIC resource providers are making assistance available with investigations 

training, sexual safety in women’s prisons, and operational and cultural assessments. 

In late 2008, Dr. Barbara Owen and Dr. James Wells completed work on a study funded by the National 

Institute of Justice that examined the contextual factors that contribute to violence and safety in women’s correctional facilities. NIC awarded the team a cooperative agreement to further validate the findings and then 

shorten and finalize the validation of the Women’s Correctional Safety Scales, which help determine female 

offenders’ risks and needs. These scales will be developed into an instrument that will help determine sexual 

safety in women’s facilities. Significant progress has been made toward developing an instrument that uses 

these scales to measure sexual safety in women’s correctional facilities. Throughout 2011, the team has been 

testing the instrument at facilities around the country. In all, 3,674 inmates in 13 facilities of varying types and 

sizes participated in the pilot study. 

Organizational Culture 

“Culture” has a long history and has been defined in different ways. Organizational culture describes the 

philosophy and attitudes that staff have about work and the experiences they have with an organization. The 

examination of organizational culture commonly describes the analysis of shared assumptions, values, beliefs, 

and attitudes. Organizations often have a limited notion of what these are within their organization, making 

the task of studying culture largely a difficult one. In corrections, the existing culture can create obstacles 

that hinder organizational performance. Since the 1990s, NIC has been working continually to identify practices to remove barriers and improve correctional culture in ways that affect public safety, staff safety, and the 

care of offenders while working to reduce victimization. 

Achieving Performance Excellence 

In FY 2011, NIC introduced Achieving Performance Excellence (APEX), a new business model designed 

specifically for correctional organizations that offers a systems approach to organizational change. The APEX 

model provides multiple tools and strategies to help agencies achieve higher performance, apply evidencebased practices, and engage in data-driven decisionmaking. In addition, this model provides agencies with 

a path to creating a culture and a management environment that encourages innovative ideas, greater communication, and improved services, processes, and results. Training for multiple state and local correctional 

agencies will begin in early 2012. Their collaborative participation in the training will build national partnerships that will help improve the criminal justice system. 

Workplace Learning and Staff Performance Enhancement 

The Workplace Learning and Staff Performance Enhancement initiative piloted a catalog of six virtual 

instructor-led courses that detailed the changing nature of training/learning in corrections. In addition, the 

Workplace Learning Annotated Bibliography was launched on the NIC website. It represents the continuing 

body of research now available on human learning. NIC consistently applies this and other research to the 

delivery of each of its training programs. 

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Corrections and Environmental Impact 

NIC’s Green Corrections initiative represents an effort to help agencies develop collaborative programs 

focused on sustainability and transfer of knowledge regarding environmental policies and practices. Through 

the initiative, state correctional agencies gain access to the expertise and experience of leading green job 

readiness and education programs, transformative sustainability strategies, planning, technical support, and 

peer networking opportunities. NIC will emphasize the need for the agency to plan and incorporate the work 

into the agency strategic plan. 

In May 2011, NIC released the publication The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System. 

Project goals for 2012 are to: 

•	� Provide targeted technical assistance to state correctional agencies to assist them in creating a green 

strategic action plan and documenting lessons learned to advance the field. 

•	� Establish a green community of practice to create a peer learning community among state correctional 

agencies. 

•	� Develop and build strategic partnerships to broaden and enhance the community of practice through 

leveraging partnerships with private foundations. 

•	� Expand the scope of work and build new partnerships that may not have previously existed between NIC 

and the technical assistance site to facilitate the sharing of resources. 

•	� Convene a thought-leader roundtable focused on Women, Prison, and the Green Economy. 

12 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Training Corrections Leaders 

for the Future 

T

raining and education are at the core of the National Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s) mission, and they 

permeate every aspect of what NIC does for the field. NIC provides information and instruction in corrections using the NIC Learning Center, the NIC Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Learning Center, 

the Center for Correctional Leadership and Management Studies, the NIC Information Center, satellite/
�

Internet broadcasts, and dedicated staff from the NIC Academy and other divisions. 

NIC Learning Center 

The NIC Learning Center (http://nic.learn.com) provides access to corrections professionals who are interested in registering for an NIC classroom program, Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) program, or e-course. 

VILT programs are facilitated live in an online classroom environment. Students can network, share experiences, and interact with an instructor from their own computers just as they would in a classroom setting. 

E-courses are similar to listening to a lecture online with interactive graphics, exercises, quizzes, and tests. This 

form of training is self-paced and allows students to pause and resume training at their convenience. 

The NIC Learning Center is available to federal, state, local, and tribal corrections professionals whose jobs 

are in executive management, middle management, firstline supervision, offender programming, or training/ 

staff development in corrections. During fiscal year (FY) 2011, 69 classroom programs, 28 VILTs, and 230 

e-courses were available to corrections professionals. Upon completion of any NIC Learning Center training 

activity, participants immediately receive a certificate acknowledging their participation. 

Corrections professionals working in Table 2. Agency Affiliations of Users of the NIC and PREA federal, state, and county corrections Learning Centers agencies accounted for 87.7 percent of all 

students in the NIC and PREA Learning 

Centers. Table 2 presents agency affiliation data for all active users on September 

30, 2011. 

Agency Affiliations Frequency Percent 

State 3,715 39.5 

Private 656 7.0 

Corrections professionals working in 

adult prisons and jails accounted for 57.8 Municipal 114 1.2 

percent of all students in the NIC and 

PREA Learning Centers. Table 3 presents Regional 54 

None listed 196 2.1 

Federal—Other 88 0.9 

0.6 

data on the primary area of corrections 

affiliation for all active users on September Indian Country—Tribal 13 

Foreign 14 0.1 

0.1 

30, 2011. U.S. Commonwealth or Territory 11 0.1 

Indian Country—Bureau of Indian Affairs 10 0.1 

Table 4 presents state affiliation data for 

all active users on September 30, 2011. 

Total 9,403 100.0 

County 3,103 33.0 

Federal—Bureau of Prisons 1,429 15.2 

Training Corrections Leaders for the Future 13
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NIC PREA Learning Center 

The NIC PREA Learning Center (http://nic.learn.com/PREA) was created to support the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. The PREA Learning Center offers the e-course Your Role: Responding to Sexual Abuse, 

which provides a comprehensive overview of the act and is designed to increase students’ understanding 

of the dynamics of sexual abuse among male inmates, female inmates, and between staff and inmates. This 

course teaches participants how to respond effectively and appropriately to allegations of sexual abuse in a 

correctional facility. A certificate is immediately available to participants upon completion of the course. Your 

Role: Responding to Sexual Abuse is eligible to all staff working in a correctional setting. During FY 2011, a 

total of 3,497 correctional professionals completed this e-course. 

Table 3. Primary Area of Corrections Affiliations of Users of the NIC and PREA Learning Centers 

Type of Agency Frequency Percent 

Adult Prison 2,857 30.4 

Adult Jail 2,581 27.4 

Juvenile Detention 930 9.9 

Adult Community Corrections 913 9.7 

General Corrections 569 6.1 

Adult Other 540 5.7 

Juvenile Community Corrections 515 5.5 

Secure Juvenile Facility or Training School 303 3.2 

None Listed 195 2.1 

Total 9,403 100.0 

Table 4. State Affiliations of Users of the NIC and PREA Learning Centers 

State Frequency Percent 

MD 939 10.0 

State Frequency Percent 

PA 161 1.7 

State Frequency Percent 

MA 71 0.8 

FL 864 9.2 

TX 445 4.7 

IL 144 1.5 

NY 141 1.5 

NJ 62 0.7 

HI 45 0.5 

CA 433 4.6 No Response 139 1.5 MS 44 

CO 393 4.2 LA 136 1.4 NH 35 0.4 

TN 328 3.5 AR 134 1.4 UT 29 

NC 321 3.4 AK 129 1.4 ME 26 0.3 

MO 306 3.3 OH 126 1.3 RI 25 0.3 

KS 284 3.0 IA 113 1.2 

International 

User 24 0.3 

SC 293 3.1 KY 124 1.3 

NM 280 3.0 OR 112 1.2 SD 22 0.2 

MT 249 2.6 DE 108 1.1 WY 18 0.2 

OK 215 2.3 WI 105 1.1 VT 16 0.2 

AZ 206 2.2 CT 103 1.1 ND 14 0.1 

IN 203 2.2 PR 6 0.1 

NV 199 2.1 VI 5 0.1 

VA 191 2.0 GU 4 0.0 

Total 9,403 100.0

NE 99 1.1 

ID 92 1.0 

WA 87 0.9 

WV 174 1.9 MN 83 0.9 

AL 173 1.8 MI 80 0.9 

GA 170 1.8 DC 75 0.8 

14 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 

0.5 

0.3 
Top NIC training events reported throughout the nation included: 

• Direct Supervision. 

• Senior Level Leader Training. 

• Executive Excellence. 

• Building Effective Work Teams. 

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Combined Learning Center Activity 

The NIC Learning Center and PREA Learning Center were popular learning destinations for federal, state, 

local, and tribal corrections professionals. Between the first and fourth quarters of 2011, the number of 

approved students in the NIC Learning Center and PREA Learning Center rose by 54 percent (see figure 1). 

As of September 30, 2011, there were 9,385 students with active accounts. Additionally, 1,625 students completed a classroom training program or network meeting while 463 completed a VILT program. The use of 

e-courses among corrections professionals increased at a rapid pace when compared to previous years. 

Students completed 16,462 e-courses during FY 2011, which is a 60-percent increase over FY 2010 and a 

401-percent increase over FY 2008 (see figure 2). 

Figure 1. Approved Users in NIC’s Learning Figure 2. E-Course Completions Between 

Management System During FY 2011 FY 2008 and FY 2011 

10,000 20,000 Number of Courses Completed

0 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of Approved Users

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

16,000

12,000

8,000

4,000

0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

quarter quarter  quarter  quarter Fiscal Years

Fiscal Year 2011

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Center for Correctional Leadership and Management Studies 

The NIC Center for Correctional Leadership and Management Studies (CCLMS) focuses on creating innovative leadership, management, and organizational development products with an emphasis on evidence-based 

research and practice. The site was launched on the NIC website under the “Projects” link. 

One of the first initiatives of the CCLMS was the creation of what NIC has called the “University Model,” 

which restructures how customers are guided through leadership and management courses. Participants 

must complete courses progressively, with one course building on the next. These progressions are similar 

to what you might find in a college study program, where there may be 100- and 200-level courses in a subject 

area. The University Model expands the accessibility of NIC’s leadership and management development training, making coursework available to corrections personnel who may not currently be at the executive, senior, 

or managerial levels in their agencies. 

Live Satellite/Internet Broadcast Series 

FY 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the NIC Live Satellite/Internet Broadcast series. NIC successfully 

aired five long-form broadcasts this fiscal year, covering a range of critical issues in corrections. The total 

viewing audience for these broadcasts was estimated at more than 15,500 viewers. Topics for the broadcast 

series in FY 2011 included: 

•	� Reduce Costs, Lower Risks, Enhance Healthcare Services: The Promise of Effective Pharmaceutical 

Management. 

•	� Thinking for a Change 3.0: Worth the Wait! 

•	� What Really Counts in Corrections: Performance-Based Measurement System. 

•	� Correctional Industries Programming: A Working Solution! 

•	� Offender Employment Retention: Worth the Work! 

Enhancements to the broadcasts this year included the streamlining of the broadcast planning process, the 

addition of “live chat” during broadcasts, flexible use of cohosts, the use of prerecorded correctional-oriented 

video scenarios, and improved followup responses to audience questions that did not air. 

In FY 2012, NIC plans to produce five new broadcasts on emerging correctional topics. 

Division Training 

Offender Workforce Development Specialist Partnership Training 

NIC provides Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS) Partnership Training in collaboration 

with the National Career Development Association (www.ncda.org). The progam teaches participants how to 

develop and manage effective job placement and business partnership programs in local jurisdictions. Participants who complete the program may apply for Global Career Development Facilitator certification through 

16 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (www.cce-global.org). They may also apply to receive six 

undergraduate- or graduate-level college credits through Indiana State University. 

In FY 2011, the curriculum was revised to maximize the use of blended learning, an approach that takes the 

best of classroom learning and infuses e-course, self-study, and other methods into the learning process. By 

incorporating e-courses and fieldwork into the new curriculum, classroom time was reduced from 3 weeks to 

2 weeks, resulting in a more efficient, cost-effective way to deliver the OWDS Partnership Training. 

The newly revised training was piloted in the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office and in La Crosse County (WI) 

on the following days: 

• Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office: 

❍❍ February 28–March 4, 2011. 

❍❍ June 13–17, 2011. 

• La Crosse County: 

❍❍ May 2–6, 2011. 

❍❍ August 1–5, 2011. 

The 16 participants who completed the training in Jacksonville presented action plans that will contribute to a 

larger communitywide reentry initiative involving the local sheriff’s office and the city of Jacksonville. 

As an NIC Transition from Jail to Community (TJC) site, La Crosse County will incorporate OWDS into its 

comprehensive reentry strategy. The 13 participants who completed the training developed action plans that 

will support the TJC initiative. 

The pilot training programs allowed NIC to field test the revised curriculum, blended delivery strategy, and 

onsite partnerships. 

Offender Employment Retention Training 

Offender Employment Retention Training builds on the relationship between the principles of cognitive 

behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing techniques. Together, these help offenders create a solid 

foundation for self-exploration—one that helps to resolve any ambivalence to change. The training also 

provides instruction in the administration of an Employment Retention Inventory, an assessment tool that 

creates a process whereby offenders can be connected to specialized services that successfully address their 

recidivism and employment retention needs. This new 40-hour training, delivered using blended-learning 

techniques, was successfully piloted in January and May 2011. 

Administering the Large Jail 

Piloted in January 2011, Administering the Large Jail provides new administrators with both the immediate 

knowledge and long-term skills they need to manage a large jail system (1,000 or more beds) effectively. 

Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to identify and discuss priorities for personal 

development and improvements in their own facilities. Topics include liability management, executive management, organizational assessment, working with the external environment, staffing and workforce management, risk management, budget and resource management, and inmate management. Participant feedback 

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Training Snapshot: Jail Administration 

In mid-September 2011, 24 participants, including sheriffs and jail administrators from 23 jurisdictions across the United 

States, gathered at the National Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s) new National Corrections Academy (NCA) in Aurora, CO, 

to participate in NIC’s first Jail Administration program since the NCA opened in June 2011. 

During the introduction, participants received an overview of NIC’s website and Information Center. Participants were 

able to browse the Robert J. Kutak Library, request materials, and take resources home to their jurisdictions. Each participant also left the training center with a resource disk that included numerous items from NIC’s electronic documents 

collection. 

The participants enjoyed the new training environment, which was designed to provide them with a memorable learning 

experience. They all worked hard, enjoyed the networking, and benefited immensely from the expertise of the professional trainers. 

By the end of the program on Friday, the participants had learned new skills and made new friends, whether it was in 

class or after the training sessions. Everyone left the NCA refreshed and committed to returning to their jurisdiction to 

further develop their newly acquired skills. 

following the pilot indicated that students found the course both relevant and useful. One participant noted 

that “the course was right on target not only for new large jail administrators but for all large jail administrators.” Another participant commented that it was a “great class. I will use what I’ve learned back at my 

agency.” 

Jail Administration 

NIC conducts a training program on key elements in jail administration for jails nationwide. There is a consistently high demand for this program, and in FY 2011 NIC delivered this program six times: twice at the 

National Corrections Academy for jail administrators from across the country and four times in specific states, 

including New Mexico, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Kentucky. 

Participants rated all programs highly. Comments included the following: 

•	� “I’ve attended jail training for 24 years. This is one of the most comprehensive training [programs] I’ve 

attended.” 

•	� “Great and essential course.” 

•	� “Great program. This material will elevate the professional and executive knowledge of administrators...” 

•	� “. . . a great learning experience with exceptional trainers.” 

•	� “Critical to have this course.” 

•	� “Information and materials covered are essential to my job and the overall operation of my facility.” 

Jail Inspector Training Program 

During FY 2011, NIC revised its jail inspector training curriculum to take account of the changes in case law 

affecting jail conditions and operations within the past decade. In addition, a considerable shift has occurred 

in determining who has assumed responsibility for managing jail standards and their inspections. A number 

18 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
of states have stepped back from their responsibilities, and state sheriffs’ associations have stepped up to fill 

the void. 

NIC relied on input from subject-matter experts and practitioners to make the updated curriculum more 

responsive to adult learning principles and contemporary issues. Pilot tested this year with a diverse audience of inspectors (e.g., geographically, organizationally, and at varying levels of responsibility), the revised 

curriculum will be finalized in FY 2012. NIC will use the curriculum in the future and will make the materials 

available to states. 

A sample of comments provided to NIC from the jail inspector pilot training program included the following: 

• “Overall, the course is very helpful and will only get better. Once again the trainers went above and 

beyond to provide information and [have] teamwork with the trainees.” 

• “All information was relevant...would have liked to spend more time on reading and understanding 

blueprints. The practical inspection exercise was very good and informative.” 

• “Awesome training! I will take so much back to my jail administrators. I hope to utilize a lot for myself.” 

National Sheriffs’ Institute 

The NIC Jails Division, in partnership with the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), conducts the National 

Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) twice yearly. NSI is the only leadership development program in the nation designed 

specifically for first-term sheriffs. NIC is strongly committed to NSI and its partnership with NSA because 

most of the nation’s jails are under the authority of locally elected sheriffs and benefit directly when the sheriff is an effective leader. 

NSI consistently receives highly positive ratings from the sheriffs who attend, and the programs conducted in 

FY 2011 were no exception. Examples include the following: 

• “The staff and instructors did an outstanding job—they knew the material and did a fabulous job reinforcing the lessons. I was honored to attend and get to know the NSA/NIC staff, advisors, instructors, and my 

fellow sheriffs.” 

• “I plan to use the concepts taught almost immediately.” 

• “... would highly recommend this to any executive.” 

For each NSI, NIC conducts a 3-month followup evaluation. As part of the evaluation, sheriffs must rate the 

value of the NSI to their work as leaders. NIC completed one followup evaluation in FY 2011 and found that 87 

percent of the sheriffs “agreed” or “strongly agreed” with the following statements: 

• “The NSI provided me with the skills necessary to meet the leadership challenges I face as sheriff in my 

organization and community.” 

• “Attending the NSI helped me accomplish needed changes in my organization.” 

• “The NSI covered the primary knowledge and skills a new sheriff needs to carry out his/her leadership 

role.” 

• “I would recommend the NSI to other new sheriffs.” 

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Orientation for Parole Board Members: Integrating Evidence-Based Principles Into 

Parole Board Practices 

One of NIC’s newest parole-focused courses, Orientation for Parole Board Members: Integrating EvidenceBased Principles Into Parole Board Practices empowers parole board members to make informed parole 

decisions through recognized principles and objective guidelines that promote public safety and successful 

reentry. This 40-hour blended-learning training (VILT combined with face-to-face training) was first offered in 

July 2011 in Aurora, CO. More than 25 participants registered for this training. Because of the success of this 

training in FY 2011, NIC will begin offering the course twice a year. 

Orientation for New Parole Board Chairs: Leading the Parole Authority 

The second of NIC’s new parole-focused courses addresses the needs of the newest leadership members of a parole board. Orientation for New Parole Board Chairs: Leading the Parole Authority is a 40-hour blended-learning 

training designed to enable parole board chairs to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to lead the efforts 

of their board and to foster successful reentry through the use of research-driven, evidence-based practices. Following the conclusion of the training, NIC provides participants with technical assistance throughout the year to 

help them implement specific, identified changes in their paroling agencies. The training guides participants from 

classroom instruction to implementation. 

NIC first offered this course in September 2011 in Washington, DC, with participants from around the country. As a result of the training, NIC will deliver comprehensive technical assistance to six paroling authorities to help them implement very specific projects, including the identification and implementation of a sex 

offender risk assessment tool for one parole board and working to reduce redundancy in parole board case 

management processing for another. 

Orientation for Parole Executives 

Initiated in April 2011 and under current development is NIC’s Orientation for Parole Executives. The course 

will expand the knowledge and skills of parole board executives to develop evidence-informed corrections 

policy with state executive staff and build collaborative partnerships with state departments of corrections 

that support successful reentry. At the conclusion of the training, participants will identify their state departments of corrections partners and initiate a collaborative project to work on. NIC will assist them through 

technical assistance. The first pilot of the training is planned for February 2012. 

All Directors Training 

In partnership with the Association of State Correctional Administrators, NIC’s All Directors Training was 

conducted in December 2010 in San Francisco, CA, and three New Directors Training programs were held in 

March 2011, June 2011, and September 2011. 

20 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
... I participated in the New Warden training in Oklahoma City several years ago with 

a group from Connecticut DOC. We were 

asked to state a goal we wished to accomplish after leaving the training and my goal 

was to complete my Master’s Degree. Well 

. . . I will graduate in May with a Master’s 

in Criminal Justice and wanted to send a 

shout out to you with thanks for all you gave 

us at the training. It was a great pleasure 

and I know you are still impacting the lives 

of many more people to make hard choices 

and improve where they can. 

—Michele Pidgeon, participant, Correctional 

Leadership for Women training program 

August 6, 2011 

Executive Training for New Wardens 

Three Executive Training for New Wardens sessions were 

held in FY 2011: October 2010, April 2011, and July 2011. 

Due to the high demand for NIC training, the July session 

was added outside of the regular NIC training schedule. 

Operational Practices in Women’s Prisons 

Operational Practices in Women’s Prisons was conducted 

in April 2011. Connecticut hosted the training program and 

welcomed participants from the Bureau of Prisons and from 

New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In July 2011, the 

training was conducted in Colorado with participants from 

Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, and North 

Carolina. 

Partnering for Performance 

Partnering for Performance was held with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Participants 

included women from various correctional entities (jails, parole, and prisons) in Nebraska. 

Conducting Security Audits 

The Conducting Security Audits program was held in March 2011 at the Florida Department of Corrections, 

in June 2011 at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, and in September 2011 at the Washington 

Department of Corrections. September training included teams from the U.S. military. 

Strategic Development of Women Correctional Executives 

Strategic Development of Women Correctional Executives was conducted in September 2011. The training 

helps women executives enhance their leadership skills, using their unique perspectives and the positions 

that they hold in their agencies. 

Executive Excellence 

Starting in FY 2011, phase 2 of the Executive Excellence training program is virtual. Whereas in the past, the 

training comprised three face-to-face learning sessions, it now comprises six sessions using virtual technology. WebEx hosts the training’s phased assignments. Class 15 is currently in progress and will graduate in 

January 2012. 

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The Changing Face of Participation With the NIC Academy 

Type of Training/Type of Academy Project Number of Participants 

Training Programs Held in Aurora, CO 121 

Training Programs Held Offsite and as Partnerships 516 

Regional Training Initiative (RTI) Events 556 

Technical Assistance Training Events 455 

Conference Workshops 200 

3-Hour Satellite/Internet Broadcasts 45,000 

Virtual Instructor Led Training 467 

Total 47,315 

Management Development for the Future 

In FY 2011, NIC partnered with five correctional agencies (West Virginia Division of Corrections, Montana 

Department of Corrections, Lafayette Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Department, Alabama Department of Corrections, 

and Iowa Department of Corrections) for various phases of the blended Management Development for the 

Future series. Five sessions of the series were completed by September 30, 2011. 

Captains’ Leadership Curriculum: Areas of Challenge 

The Captains’ Leadership Curriculum: Areas of Challenge is a highlight of NIC’s commitment to providing 

fiscally responsible training to the corrections field. In FY 2011, NIC updated the curriculum for the Bureau 

of Prisons (BOP) and, with only $3,000, was able to train 99 BOP captains. The sessions included positional 

and leadership competency-based courses that focused on teaching BOP captains how to develop a blueprint 

for their individual leadership development, which would be based on two assessments, multiple assignments, 

facilitated sessions, and intersession activities. 

Inmate Behavior Management 

Managing inmates is the core function of a jail, yet many jails perform poorly in this area, as evidenced by 

the high levels of problem inmate behavior prevalent in many jails. Traditionally, most jails focused on physically containing inmates—with the use of locks, steel doors, security glass, and alarm systems—but failed to 

I would encourage all agencies to attend this program. I am excited to return 

and begin the process and apply the many things I was taught. 

—Anonymous, regarding Inmate Behavior Management course 

Great concept—allows for positive interactions between staff and inmates. 

—Anonymous, regarding Inmate Behavior Management course 

22 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
supervise inmates, essentially leaving them to their own devices. This has resulted in the violence, vandalism, 

and unsanitary conditions that have been so common in jails. Many jail practitioners (and their communities) 

have come to believe that these problems are simply inherent to jails. 

Building on previous work by NIC on inmate classification, inmate supervision, and direct supervision jails, 

NIC has identified six key elements in managing inmate behavior: 

• Assessing the risks and needs each inmate presents. 

• Assigning inmates to appropriate housing. 

• Meeting basic inmate needs. 

• Setting and conveying expectations for inmate behavior. 

• Supervising inmates. 

• Keeping inmates productively occupied. 

These elements, implemented together, form an integrated system of managing inmates that is designed 

to reduce all types and levels of problem inmate behavior, leading to a much safer and more secure jail. For 

several years, NIC has been conducting training programs for local jails on this approach to managing inmate 

behavior. In FY 2011, several jails that implemented these elements reported a reduction in problem inmate 

behaviors, improved staff morale, more professional relationships between staff and inmates, and improved 

safety and security for inmates, staff, and visitors. 

Participants in the FY 2011 programs agreed or strongly agreed that the training was relevant to their organization (88 percent), that they learned new information (94 percent), and that they felt they could implement 

lessons learned in their agency (80 percent). 

Crisis Intervention Teams 

Crisis intervention teams (CITs) are the emergency response and crisis management arm of a correctional 

facility. In December 2010, NIC offered its first quarterly training for facilities across the nation on the development and maintenance of these teams. As of the July 2011 training, 11 jail systems and 8 three-person teams 

from state departments of corrections participated. The CIT model uses a team approach and engages community stakeholders, local mental health agencies, family advocacy groups, and others in a collaborative and 

responsive effort to manage and support corrections-involved persons with mental illness. 

Training Corrections Leaders for the Future 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 23
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Training 

FY 2011 marks the 23rd year of NIC’s Regional Training Initiative, which focuses on delivering training 

programs and resources to tribal, state, and local agencies based on regional needs. These occur in addition 

to the usual trainings that NIC offers around the country. Regional demand has been high for particular NIC 

programs, including: 

• Essential Skills for New Supervisors, a program created by NIC and regional field coordinators in 2010. 

• Security Threat Group: Training for Trainers. 

• The Mindful Supervisor. 

Curricula revised by the Regional Training Initiative in FY 2011 include Social Media for Corrections 

Professionals. 

Publications 

NIC uses its publications, website, and multimedia to fill the need for training and information not covered 

through its other offerings. Below is a partial list of publications that NIC released in FY 2011: 

Transition From Prison to the Community Model 

Greening of Corrections 

Jail Design Guide 

Assessing Local Pretrial Justice Functions 

Special Challenges Facing Parole 

Paroling Authorities’ Strategic Planning and Management for Results 

The Future of Parole as a Key Partner in Assuring Public Safety 

Evidence-Based Policy, Practice, and Decisionmaking: Implications for Paroling Authorities 

24 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing To Supply the Field With 

Information Resources 

Central to the National Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s) mission is providing corrections leaders and 

staff with information to improve and support their operations. Elected officials, researchers, lawyers, 

and the general public have also come to rely on NIC for corrections resources that are hard to find 

anyplace else. NIC’s comprehensive permanent library collection includes corrections periodicals, reference materials, 

curricula, and archives submitted by state, local, and federal It was great to have the opportunity to 

agencies for edification of the public. review the aisles and aisles of information. 

What a valuable resource that more people In fiscal year (FY) 2011, NIC began coalescing many of its should use to gain information. Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) resources into a single 

—Visitor, Robert J. Kutak Library area on its website as well as maintaining its collections and 

July 28, 2011 conducting the research response operations handled by the 

NIC Information Center. 

Your researcher was the only one of many 

Prison Rape Elimination Act we contacted who had relevant information. 

It was extremely helpful. Resources 

—Visitor, NIC Online Help Desk 

NIC’s PREA collection includes many examples of training July 19, 2011 programs, policies, and documents provided by agencies 

across the country. This array of materials has assisted 

many jurisdictions in developing policies and programs that Your response was prompt and efficient are tailored to their individual needs. NIC continues to pro- and your service was reliable. I am looking vide support for the implementation of PREA through its forward to explore your website more often training programs and other products in cooperation with to seek information needed for my job in the the National PREA Resource Center. 

correctional field. Thank you. 

—Visitor, NIC Online Help Desk 

Information Center July 5, 2011 

The NIC Information Center is the dedicated information 

science and collections arm of the agency. It manages the 

nearly 20,000 documents that currently comprise the NIC library system. These documents are housed both 

online and in the Robert J. Kutak Library in the National Corrections Academy in Aurora, CO. Nearly 15 

percent of NIC’s documents are online. Resources that cannot be accessed online can be obtained in most 

cases by connecting with a librarian. 

NIC’s Ask a Librarian service helps facilitate remote access to NIC’s resources and materials. NIC librarians 

are equipped with unique training in working with corrections references and can meet the reference needs 

of the corrections field. NIC’s Information Center has a 97-percent customer approval rating. 

ContinuingTo Supply the Field With Information Resources 25
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dedication of the National Corrections Academy 

Dedication of the National 

Corrections Academy 

On June 28, 2011, the National Corrections Academy 

(NCA) held a dedication ceremony to commemorate 

the opening of its new training academy at the recently completed Cornell Avenue location in Aurora, 

CO. Acting Bureau of Prisons Director Thomas R. 

Kane; Assistant Director Kim M. White, Human 

Resource Management Division; Director Morris 

Thigpen, National Institute of Corrections (NIC); and 

other NIC officials were on hand to cut the ribbon, officially opening the academy for training. Nearly 300 

students were also present for the ceremony. 

The new NCA facility boasts several new instructional technologies, including an on-demand video 

server and video teleconferencing capability in each 

classroom. Although it is the same size as NCA’s 

former location, the new facility offers greatly increased training room capacity, nearly doubling the 

total seating and training space found in the previous 

facility. 

26 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical Assistance 

F

iscal year (FY) 2011 was a banner year for technical assistance requests to the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) (see figure 3). The NIC Jails Division trained 892 individuals. Some training events were 

small, such as the session on How to Open a New Jail, which was held for eight participants in a single 

agency; others were large, like the 8-hour Legal Update training held at the American Jail Association annual 

meeting, which reached 238 participants from multiple agencies. 

Some of the most requested technical assistance programs included: 

• Thinking for a Change facilitator training course. 

• Leadership capacity building requests. 

• Prison Rape Elimination Act assistance. 

We have focused on accountability, followthrough, and communication, with the ultimate 

goal [being] to [become] a high performing 

organization. ... I am so appreciative to have this 

opportunity and grateful for the NIC funding. ... 

I plan to share the progress and results of our 

work with other Indiana County Directors. It is a 

bit intimidating to share our weaknesses, but [it] 

would be an injustice to not help others learn and 

grow. ... Thanks so much for your assistance... 

—Kellie J. Bittorf, Executive Director, 

Lake County Community Corrections 

recipient of technical assistance for 

high-performing community corrections divisions 

NIC News 

From all available news reports, the National 

Institute of Corrections’ (NIC’s) role as a technical 

assistance provider was the most widely reported 

aspect of NIC assistance to the field. 

Technical Assistance Snapshot: 

Culture Training Development 

The National Institute of Corrections has partnered with the Indiana Department of Corrections 

to improve its institutional culture. The ongoing 

project focuses on two major components. The 

first component is leadership development through 

the use of staff training and seminars that will help 

organizations develop current leaders and build 

processes for incorporating culture into everyday 

work practices. These measures will help ensure 

that the cultural changes that organizations adopt 

today will be sustained throughout the future. 

The second component is enhancing the Indiana 

Justice Model to help improve staff and offender 

relations and reduce violence. The Indiana Department of Corrections will develop training curricula 

and policies to introduce and reinforce behaviors 

for offenders and staff as outlined in the agency 

rules of behavior and vision and mission. 

Technical Assistance 27
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Technical Assistance Requests by State, FY 2011 

State/Territory 

Number of 

Requests 

Alabama AL 0 

State/Territory 

Number of 

Requests 

Louisiana LA 0 

State/Territory 

Number of 

Requests 

Oklahoma OK 2 

Alaska AK 1 

Arkansas AR 0 

Maine ME 6 

Maryland MD 7 

Oregon OR 3 

Pennsylvania PA 1 

Arizona AZ 8 Massachusetts MA 4 Rhode Island RI 1
�

California CA 8 Michigan MI 7 South Carolina SC 3 

Colorado CO 8 Minnesota MN 2 South Dakota SD 2
�

Connecticut CT 3 Mississippi MS 3 Tennessee TN 5 

Delaware DE 1 Missouri MO 3 Texas TX 3
�

District of Columbia DC 13 Montana MT 1 Utah UT 0 

Florida FL 4 Nebraska NE 2 Vermont VT 0 

Georgia GA 3 Nevada NV 3 Virginia VA 13 

Hawaii HI 0 New Hampshire NH 3 Virgin Islands VI 1
�

Idaho ID 3 New Jersey NJ 2 Washington WA 5 

Illinois IL 6 New Mexico NM 0 West Virginia WV 3
�

Indiana IN 6 New York NY 9 Wisconsin WI 11 

Iowa IA 10 North Carolina NC 0 Wyoming WY 1
�

Kansas KS 6 North Dakota ND 1 Canada 1 

Kentucky KY 1 Ohio OH 4
�

WA

5

MT

1 ND

1

Canada

1

SD

2

MN

2

IA

10

MO

3

AR

0

LA

0

WI

11

IL

6

TN 5

KY

1

IN

6

OH

4

PA

1

WV

3

MS

3

AL

0

GA 

3 

SC 

3 

NC 

0 

VA 

13 

FL 

4 

TX 

3 

AZ 

8 

CA 

8 

OR 

3 

NV 

3 

CO 

8 

HI 0 

NE 

2 

KS 

6 

OK 

2 

NY 

9 

NJ 2 

DE 1 

MD 7 

DC 13 

MA 4 

RI 1 

CT 3 

ME 6 

NH 

3 VT 

0 

MI 

7 

AK 

1 

ID 

3 

NM 

0 

UT 

0 

WY 

1 

VI 1 

Technical Assistance 

Requests by State

■  9–13 (5) 

■  6–8 (9) 

■ 3–5 (16) 

■ 1–2 (15) 

■  0 (8) 

Note: States with zero technical assistance are states in which requests for 

assistance either have not been received or have not yet been approved. 

28 National Institute of Corrections Report to the Nation FY 2011
�
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 

NIC Directory 

Morris Thigpen, Director, mthigpen@bop.gov, 202–514–4202 

Thomas Beauclair, Deputy Director, tbeauclair@bop.gov, 202–514–4254 

Robert Brown, Chief, Academy Division, rbrown@bop.gov, 303–338–6610 

Jim Cosby, Chief, Community Services Division, jcosby@bop.gov, 202–353–4213 

Harry Fenstermaker, Chief, Financial Management Division, hfenstermaker@bop.gov, 202–307–6687 

Virginia Hutchinson, Chief, Jails Division, vhutchinson@bop.gov, 202–307–5811 

Christopher Innes, Chief, Research and Information Services Division, cinnes@bop.gov, 202–514–0098 

Shaina Vanek, Executive Assistant, Administration Division, svanek@bop.gov, 202–514–4222 

BeLinda Watson, Chief, Prisons Division, bpwatson@bop.gov, 202–353–0483 

Appendix 29




 

 

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