Inmate Assistance Programs

Cases responded to and closed during the reporting period July 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020

In partnership with the Vera Institute of Justice's Allison Hastings and Jannette Brickman, the PREA Resource Center hosted a webinar regarding language access in the PREA Standards for English language learners and inmates, residents, and detainees with disabilities

The Urban Institute serves as the main point of contact for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative for potential sites. In that role, Urban monitors a JRI email address, through which it fields questions from potential JRI sites. Urban also responds to media inquiries and general questions from academics and practitioners about JRI.

NRRC Technical-Assistance -- Quick Chat Proposal
The Importance of Rural Reentry: Challenges, Strategies and Partnerships

Issue: Rural Reentry: Best Practices, Challenges, Barriers
Guests: Representatives from Altarum, CEO, CSH, and JLUSA
Facilitator: Roger Jarjoura
Coaches: Derrick Franke, Joe Williams, Cassandra Blakely
Producers: Felice and Shoshana
Target Audience: BJA & OJJDP SCA Grantees

We received an Ad Hoc request from the Youth Services Division of the DC Department of Human Services (from the Special Assistant to the Deputy Administrator). AIR Lead Coach Simon Gonsoulin and AIR Lead for Identifying Innovations Barbara Broman had 2 calls with the team from DC to better understand the initial TA request. The TA request involves 3 integrated components. The plan is to establish three groups of work that will ultimately come together in the end. The three groups will be made up of NRRC staff and staff from the DC office.

Facilitate relationship-based TTA to support all active SCA BJA and OJJDP grantees at all stages of grantee funding cycles

Evidence based practices in corrections are those practices supported and validated by the research that are strongly linked to reducing recidivism and improved outcomes for clients, as well as enhancing community safety. Case planning is focused on integrating court orders with an assessment process, as well as assessing a client’s stage of change to focus supervision activities on criminogenic needs related to recidivism.

The role of practitioners in the criminal justice system is rapidly changing from enforcer or resource broker to facilitator of behavior change. Cognitive behavioral skill building is an evidence-based practice for changing difficult and entrenched behaviors including antisocial thinking, addiction, and impulsivity. The partnership between treatment providers and criminal justice professionals requires that all professionals understand cognitive behavioral therapy and skill development.

Over 80% of all people under supervision in the criminal justice system have experienced trauma or show symptoms of trauma. Additionally, probation, parole and victim service providers encounter a high percentage of victims that are experiencing trauma. In underserved and Native American communities, it is critically important for criminal justice professionals to have skills to recognize and address historical trauma, generalized trauma, especially when there are limited services.

The Urban Institute serves as the main point of contact for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative for potential sites. In that role, Urban monitors a JRI email address, through which it fields questions from potential JRI sites. Urban also responds to media inquiries and general questions from academics and practitioners about JRI.