Correctional Best Practices
Category: Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in corrections, and it deals with correctional best practices.
These best practices include all kinds of methods and programs that promote rehabilitation, reintegration, and fiscal responsibility. And they require a multifaceted approach with a variety of stakeholders that includes policymakers, community groups, and you – the good people who staff our nation’s correctional facilities.
Using best practices helps protect the rights of inmates.
When done right, best practices provide many benefits to your community, the inmates in your care, and your organization.
First, best practices can reduce the likelihood individuals will commit new crimes after release. That’s good for everyone. And it supports your organization’s fiscal responsibility by reducing the costs associated with repeat incarceration.
Second, such practices equip incarcerated persons to address underlying issues such as substance use or mental health issues that may have contributed to their criminal behavior. Evidence-based treatment programs, educational and vocational training, and community resources help incarcerated persons develop the skills they need for successful reintegration into society.
Finally, using best practices helps protect the rights of inmates. This includes providing access to appropriate services, making sure they are free from cruel and unusual punishment, and ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect.
So how do you know if your facility is incorporating best practices? State and federal jail standards are a good place to start. But there’s so much more you can do. Take advantage of resources from industry trade groups like the American Jail Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. Read magazines, attend webinars, and participate in discussion forums to learn what progressive facilities are doing.
It’s all part of continuous improvement, and it’s essential in corrections.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
