U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Https**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (   A locked padlock
 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  **
Menu


    close

        
        
                        
  
          Home
      
    
              How NIC can help
      
                
  
          **I need Training or Courses**
               Free e-courses available 24/7
              
      
                
  
          NIC Training Programs
          In-person and blended trainings
      
    
              I need Technical Assistance
          Guidance, support, advice, assessment, and/or customized training
      
    
              I'm looking for Information Assistance
          NIC publications, DVDs, FAQs, and more
      
    
              **I need other assistance from NIC**
              
      
                
  
          NIC Helpdesk
      
    
              Connect with other Corrections Professionals
          NIC Community Forums
      
    
              Funding Opportunities
          Cooperative Agreements and more
      
    
              Resources
      
                
  
          **News and Events**
              
      
                
  
          Conferences
      
    
              NIC Events
      
    
              NIC News & Media Releases
      
    
              Subscribe to NIC's News & Announcements
          Emails with NIC's latest news and initiatives
      
    
              NIC Quarterly Newsletter Archive
      
    
              **Featured Resources**
              
      
                
  
          Resources for Corrections Professionals
          Resources about correctional topics
      
    
              Topics
          Focused areas of research for Corrections Professionals
      
    
              NIC's e-courses
      
    
              Hot Topics
          Answers to questions about NIC services & resources
      
    
              FAQs
          Frequently Asked Questions
      
    
              **NIC Library**
              
      
                
  
          Search the Library Collection
      
    
              Ask a Librarian
      
    
              Free eBooks
      
    
              Sign in to the EBSCOhost Research Platform
          Free research resources provided by NIC
      
    
              Webinars and Broadcasts
          Streaming Video of NIC Trainings
      
    
              US State Statistics
          Statistics Information about US Corrections
      
    
              About NIC
      
                
  
          **About the Agency**
              
      
                
  
          Mission
      
    
              Staff Directory
      
    
              Reports to the Nation
      
    
              Funding Opportunities
      
    
              History of NIC
      
    
              Advisory Board
      
    
              **Divisions**
              
      
                
  
          Academy Division
      
    
              Community Services Division
      
    
              Jails Division
      
    
              Prisons Division
      
    
              **Strategic Plan**
              
      
                
  
          Subscribe to NIC's News & Announcements
          Emails with NIC's latest news and initiativesMy Cart
                                
                          
        
                Log in Home
                                    Resources
                                    Resources For Your Area of Practice
                                    Most Searched Topics

      

                    
          
    Book:Resources for your Area of Practice
              Community Services
                
                                Pretrial Resources
                            Probation Resources
                            Parole Resources
                            Jails Resources
                            Prisons Resources
                            Most searched topics
On this page

About this page
	
	Technical Assistance
	eCourses
	
	Related TopicsMost searched topics
This page is designed to provide quick and easy access to the resources and information that our users find most valuable.

Our most searched and most popular content covers a wide range of areas, from leadership and performance to offender programming and reentry. We have resources on topics such as PREA, Thinking for a Change, staff wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and learning. We also have information on emerging trends and best practices in corrections.

Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional, NIC has the resources to support your growth and development.


  Navigation links for: Most searched topics
      ‹ Prisons Resources
                    Up
                   How can Technical Assistance from NIC help my organization?

NIC technical assistance provides a range of services designed to help corrections agencies succeed. From training and mentoring to on-site assistance and program implementation, NIC's technical assistance experts have the experience and expertise to help agencies address their unique challenges and achieve their goals. Technical assistance can help agencies improve staff training and development, enhance offender programming, and implement evidence-based practices. NIC technical assistance also offers support for emerging trends and issues in corrections, including staff wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion. With NIC technical assistance, corrections agencies can access the resources and expertise they need to improve operations, enhance outcomes, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of staff and offenders.

What is an example of NIC's Technical Assistance?

In 2020, NIC provided technical assistance to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) to improve the agency's reentry programming. Through a comprehensive needs assessment and consultation with ADOC staff, NIC experts helped the agency identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance reentry services for offenders. The technical assistance included staff training and development, program implementation, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. As a result of this technical assistance, ADOC was able to improve the quality and effectiveness of its reentry programming and better support the successful reintegration of offenders into their communities.

Apply for NIC Technical Assistance

Online LMS Training and eCourses
          Interpersonal Communication Skills with Correctional Offenders (1,2,3)
      
            This course will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for using good communication skills will enhance management, control, and professionalism, when working with offenders. Additional skills are added in courses 2 & 3.
          Motivational Interviewing (MI): Overview
      
            This course provides an overview of Motivational Interviewing (MI). By using specific techniques and applying MI, corrections professionals can help increase offenders’ motivation to make changes in their lives that will reduce their likelihood of reoffending.
          Leadership in Times of Critical Incidents
      
            This course will focus on the leadership role you can take in your organization during critical incidents. It also explores how leadership perspective can be the lens to proactively anticipate crisis situations.
          Collaboration: A Survival Strategy for Turbulent Times
      
            In this course you will learn about the importance of collaborations in corrections. Particularly in these turbulent times, collaboration may ensure the survival of programs, services, and even agencies.
          Introduction to Leadership Competencies
      
            This course will introduce you to the purpose of the NIC’s Correctional Leadership Competency Model and how it can be used to develop you, your team, and your organization.
          How to Develop Effective Performance Objectives
      
            During this course, you will learn about the characteristics of effective performance objectives. You will also learn to differentiate between complete and incomplete performance objectives, and lower and higher levels of performance objectives.

Highlighted Publications
          Jail Design Guide: A Resource for Small and Medium-Sized Jails
          Motivating Offenders to Change: A Guide for Probation and Parole
          Price
              $0.00

Objective Jail Classification Systems: A Guide for Jail Administrators

  Amount in Stock
              0
          A Framework for Pretrial Justice: Essential Elements of an Effective Pretrial System and Agency
          Getting It Right: Collaborative Problem Solving for Criminal Justice
          Fundamentals of Bail: A Resource Guide for Pretrial Practitioners and a Framework for American Pretrial Reform
          Model Practices for Parents in Prisons and Jails: Reducing Barriers to Family Connections
          Facility Development: Needs Assessment & Pre-Design Planning RFP Checklist [and] Planning & Design RFQ and RFP Checklist

Related Topics
          Children of Incarcerated Parents



Children with incarcerated parents can experience trauma and long-lasting negative effects, such as behavior problems, poor academic outcomes, and severed relationships with their parents. This page provides resources for facilities who want to provide accommodations and resources to families in their care.
          Corrections Stress



Corrections Stress refers to the emotional challenges faced by correctional personnel and the potentially cumulative negative side effects of what staff experience through daily interactions with justice-involved individuals and immersion in uniquely challenging workplace conditions.For additional information, trainings and materials on this NIC Project go to: Health and Wellness
          Data-Driven Librarianship in Corrections



DDLC combines data-driven approaches in corrections with library practices to develop correctional library programs that provide positive outcomes. The initiative explores services available for people being supervised in prisons, jails, and community corrections environments, encouraging partner organizations to advance the field.
          Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility



Employers must create a work environment that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) to attract the best employees. The DEIA supports individual and organizational growth by providing resources to examine bias, lead diverse teams, support inclusive teams, and create DEIA programs.
          Employer-Driven Employment Model for Justice-Involved Individuals



The Employer-Driven Employment Toolkit provides effective practices, strategies, tips, and resources for implementing the four key processes. The toolkit emphasizes building relationships between corrections agencies and businesses to ensure successful attachment to the labor market.
          Evidence-Based Decision Making



EBDM is a strategic and deliberate method of applying empirical knowledge and research-supported principles to justice system decisions made at the case, agency, and system level. Public safety outcomes will be improved when stakeholders engage in partnerships, use research, and create better outcomes.
          Evidence-based Practices (EBP)



Evidence-based practice (EBP) uses current research and data to guide policy and practice decisions. It involves critical review of research literature, quality assurance, and evaluation. EBP focuses on measurable outcomes and practical realities, making it appropriate for outcome-focused human service disciplines.
          Evidenced-Based Workforce Training Series



The **Evidenced-Based Workforce Training Series** - based on evidence-based practices - shows staff how to combine cognitive behavioral interventions with motivational interviewing techniques to address offenders’ gainful attachment to the workforce and/or job loss. This “hand in glove” approach supports the honest exploration of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs affecting offender
          Gangs (Security Threat Groups)



Gangs are an ongoing national problem that requires effective management by the public safety community. The research discussed covers various topics related to gangs, including slang used by prison gangs and intervention for gang-affiliated inmates.
          Green Corrections



The Green Corrections Initiative promotes environmentally sustainable practices and green-collar job readiness training programs in correctional facilities. The initiative provides technical assistance to develop strategic plans for implementing GC programs and creates a community to promote green practices throughout the country.
          Justice-Involved Veterans



This page addresses the unique needs of justice-involved veterans, who suffer from physical and "invisible" wounds of war. NIC first developed "Veterans Treatment Courts: A Second Chance for Vets Who Have Lost Their Way," and established the Justice Involved Veterans Network to improve outcomes for veterans.
          Justice-Involved Women



Correctional administrators need to understand the different paths and levels of risk of women offenders to improve outcomes for them. Technical assistance is available to local jurisdictions to examine and improve their responses to this population.
          Juvenile Justice



Juvenile detention populations have significantly reduced due to reforms in the industry. The reforms focus on improved screening, community-based alternatives, and expansion of programs for at-risk youth, with only the most dangerous youth in custody.
          Leadership Development In Corrections



NIC believes in developing effective correctional leaders through competency-based training aligned with agency needs. It offers Correctional Leadership Competencies for the 21st Century, which links skills, knowledge, and attributes of effective leaders to specific behaviors.
          Learning and Performance



NIC provides resources and services for trainers in the correctional system through the Learning and Performance Initiative to help build staff training and development capacity in corrections agencies, with guides and resources available to training directors, coordinators, and others responsible for training.
          LGBTI Persons in Custody and Under Supervision



This webpage provides information on the safe and respectful management of LGBTQI persons in custody, using best practices and considering legal perspectives. Agencies can apply for limited technical assistance to improve their response to managing LGBTQI persons.
          Motivational Interviewing



Motivational Interviewing (M.I.) is a counseling method that helps people explore and resolve ambivalence by accessing internal motivation for change. It draws from client-centered counseling, emphasizing empathy, optimism, and respect for client choice. M.I. also uses self-perception theory to encourage change by having clients talk about the benefits of change.
          Reentry/Transition



Reentry is the transition of offenders from prisons or jails back into the community. Over three-quarters of state offenders are re-arrested within five years of release, highlighting the importance of successful reintegration for improving public safety and policy.
          People with Mental Health Conditions in Corrections



This page provides links and resources to innovative ideas and best practices for managing and rehabilitating people with mental illnesses in corrections.
          Post-Conviction Victim Service Providers



This page focuses on victim services in corrections, reentry, parole, and probation that occur after an offender has been convicted. Many states provide post-conviction victims' rights such as notification, protection, assistance with restitution, and referrals to crime victim services.
          PREA/Sexual Safety for the Incarcerated



PREA was enacted to address the issue of sexual abuse of people in custody. Its provisions include zero-tolerance standards, standards for detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment, collection and dissemination of information, and award of grant funds.
          Resources for Victim Service Providers



Resources by topic area for Post-Conviction Victim Service Providers.For additional information, trainings and materials on the NIC Project go to: Post-Conviction Victim Service Providers.
          Resources on Victim Offender Dialogue



Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD), also known as Restorative Justice Dialogue or Victim Offender Mediation, is a process that brings together victims of a crime and the individuals who have harmed them. It provides an opportunity for both parties to engage in open and facilitated communication with the goal of addressing
          Individuals who commit sexual offenses



This collection of resources is intended to provide a broad overview of current research and trends in the management and treatment of sex offenders.
          Corrections State Statistics Information



This web page provides lists of resources related to local, state, and federal statistics displayed to help you see the current state of the corrections industry as of the last set of reported data.
          Statistics



This web page provides lists of resources related to local, state, and federal statistics.
          Suicide in Corrections



The resources on this page will help give an overview of the problems surrounding correctional suicides and the ways one can implement strategies to turn around the alarming upward trajectory of suicide rates.
          Technology In Corrections



Technology presents both advantages and disadvantages to the corrections field, with professionals struggling to keep up with advances. This page covers various technologies such as biometrics, drones, and body cameras, to provide information on the biggest trends in technology for the corrections field.
          Thinking for a Change



NIC's "Thinking for a Change" program is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral program designed to help offenders develop pro-social thinking and problem-solving skills. The program emphasizes skill-building and practice in a group setting, and has been shown to reduce recidivism rates for participating offenders. By addressing underlying criminogenic needs, the program aims to improve offender outcomes and promote public safety.
          Transition and Workforce Development



This page provides links to research, case studies, and best practices, demonstrating the value of giving both currently and formerly incarcerated individuals opportunities for rehabilitation through employment. By providing these resources, NIC aims to support communities in creating more inclusive and diverse workplaces while improving public safety.
          Wellness for Corrections and Supervision Professionals



This page highlights the need for maintaining safety and security while providing opportunities for staff to not become overwhelmed by both institutional and community settings. "Wellness" emphasizes the importance of taking personal well-being seriously and provides a list of topics and resources to help professionals in the corrections field find balance and stay motivated to perform at their best. Return to top

      About NIC

About the Agency
	Divisions
	Staff Directory
	Contact NIC

NIC Services

Training
	Technical Assistance
	Corrections Forums
	Subscribe to NIC News

Resources

Resources by Role
	Resources by Topic
	NIC News
	NIC Events
  
      Agency logo
              
                              National Institute of Corrections
        
                  NIC Legal Policies and DisclaimersNIC Privacy Policy and DisclaimersPlain Language PolicyAccessibility PolicyDOJ Links:Justice.govOpen GovernmentLegal Policies and DisclaimersInformation QualityPrivacy PolicySmall BusinessOffice of the Inspector GeneralBudget and PerformanceFOIANo FEAR Act DataVulnerability Disclosure PolicyVote.govHave a question about government services? Contact USA.govFollow NIC on X
the National institute of corrections governmental seal