Correctional Practitioners on Reentry: A Missed Perspective

Much of the literature on reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals revolves around discussions of failures they incur during reintegration or the identification of needs and challenges that they have during reentry from the perspective of community corrections officers. The present research fills a gap in the reentry literature by examining the needs and challenges of formerly incarcerated individuals and what makes for reentry success from the perspective of correctional practitioners (i.e., wardens and non-wardens). The views of correctional practitioners are important to understand the level of organizational commitment to reentry and the ways in which social distance between correctional professionals and their clients may impact reentry success. This research reports on the results from an email survey distributed to a national sample of correctional officials listed in the American Correctional Association, 2012 Directory. Specifically, correctional officials were asked to report on needs and challenges facing formerly incarcerated individuals, define success, identify factors related to successful reentry, recount success stories, and report what could be done to assist them in successful outcomes. Housing and employment were raised by wardens and corrections officials as important needs for successful reentry. Corrections officials adopted organizational and systems perspectives in their responses and had differing opinions about social distance. Policy implications are presented

Critical Keys to Successful Offender Reentry: Getting a Handle on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems

Over the past several decades, all facets of institutional and community corrections have been growing. This growth has resulted in increased numbers of ex-offenders reentering society. While research has emerged on reentry, much of the research has focused on examining reentry failure as opposed to reentry success. Interviews of 40 ex-offenders and community corrections officers were conducted in Washington State to pinpoint what is needed to assist ex-offenders as they reenter society—particularly as it relates to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Results from interviews revealed that ex-offenders need assistance to address substance abuse and mental health issues while incarcerated and in the community. Interview results indicated that lack of access to treatment providers or quality treatment to assist ex-offenders are key hindrances identified by ex-offenders in the reentry process. Policy implications of the results are provided

Criminal behavior : theories, typologies, and criminal justice /

Rich in historical and contemporary theory and research, Criminal Behavior:Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice is a comprehensive core text that provides an interdisciplinary overview of criminal behavior by examining relevant crime theories, explanations of how and why crime typologies are developed, literature reviews for major crime categories, and discussions of how crime theories and crime typologies are used throughout the criminal justice process. Focusing on relevant themes and current issues, this text also looks closely at categorizations of criminal behavior; the relationship between crime and pop culture, mass media, and computer technology; and gender issues and crime. This engaging book applies theory and research to real-world criminal justice practice. Key Features and Benefits: Applies theory and research to concrete examples of criminal justice practice in law enforcement, public safety, courts/law, and corrections Explores real-world examples and contemporary issues using chapter-opening vignettes, illustrative photos and graphs, boxed real-life case studies, and an interdisciplinary framework making the text lively and engaging Views crime as a dynamic, changing phenomenon and examines how mass media and computer technology shape criminal behavior in a unique chapter on crime, media, and technology that addresses cybercrime and copy cat crimes topics that fascinate students Examines feminist issues and cultural criminology, reviewing the role of gender and culture in shaping criminal behavior Boasts full chapters on political crime and economic crime subjects often ignored in other texts Includes comparative information throughout, giving students an international perspective, as well as topical coverage relating to race, ethnicity, and gender issues Ancillaries A student study site at www.sagepub.com/helfgottstudy includes self-quizzes, e-flashcards, NPR and Frontline audio and video clips, SAGE Journal articles, and more. Instructors'Includes bibliographical references (p. 548-580) and indexes.Rich in historical and contemporary theory and research, Criminal Behavior:Theories, Typologies, and Criminal Justice is a comprehensive core text that provides an interdisciplinary overview of criminal behavior by examining relevant crime theories, explanations of how and why crime typologies are developed, literature reviews for major crime categories, and discussions of how crime theories and crime typologies are used throughout the criminal justice process. Focusing on relevant themes and current issues, this text also looks closely at categorizations of criminal behavior; the relationship between crime and pop culture, mass media, and computer technology; and gender issues and crime. This engaging book applies theory and research to real-world criminal justice practice. Key Features and Benefits: Applies theory and research to concrete examples of criminal justice practice in law enforcement, public safety, courts/law, and corrections Explores real-world examples and contemporary issues using chapter-opening vignettes, illustrative photos and graphs, boxed real-life case studies, and an interdisciplinary framework making the text lively and engaging Views crime as a dynamic, changing phenomenon and examines how mass media and computer technology shape criminal behavior in a unique chapter on crime, media, and technology that addresses cybercrime and copy cat crimes topics that fascinate students Examines feminist issues and cultural criminology, reviewing the role of gender and culture in shaping criminal behavior Boasts full chapters on political crime and economic crime subjects often ignored in other texts Includes comparative information throughout, giving students an international perspective, as well as topical coverage relating to race, ethnicity, and gender issues Ancillaries A student study site at www.sagepub.com/helfgottstudy includes self-quizzes, e-flashcards, NPR and Frontline audio and video clips, SAGE Journal articles, and more. Instructors

Correctional Practitioners on Reentry: A Missed Perspective

Much of the literature on reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals revolves around discussions of failures they incur during reintegration or the identification of needs and challenges that they have during reentry from the perspective of community corrections officers. The present research fills a gap in the reentry literature by examining the needs and challenges of formerly incarcerated individuals and what makes for reentry success from the perspective of correctional practitioners (i.e., wardens and non-wardens). The views of correctional practitioners are important to understand the level of organizational commitment to reentry and the ways in which social distance between correctional professionals and their clients may impact reentry success. This research reports on the results from an email survey distributed to a national sample of correctional officials listed in the American Correctional Association, 2012 Directory. Specifically, correctional officials were asked to report on needs and challenges facing formerly incarcerated individuals, define success, identify factors related to successful reentry, recount success stories, and report what could be done to assist them in successful outcomes. Housing and employment were raised by wardens and corrections officials as important needs for successful reentry. Corrections officials adopted organizational and systems perspectives in their responses and had differing opinions about social distance. Policy implications are presented

Evaluation of CIT Components of Guardian Law Enforcement Training

© 2020, Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. In 2014, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) shifted from a paramilitary “warrior”-style training to a guardian model focused on community participation, social justice, procedural justice, and de-escalation and crisis intervention skills. The current study examines the effects of crisis intervention team (CIT) training components in the WSCJTC guardian curricula. A quasi-experimental pre-/post-survey design was employed comparing responses from a sample of 139 WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) recruits who completed BLEA in 2015 with two comparison groups—(1) 296 BLEA graduates who completed training prior to implementation of the guardian training who had no prior CIT training and (2) 851 BLEA graduates who completed training prior to implementation of the guardian training who had prior CIT training. Additionally, the study examined the effects of a WSCJTC’s 40-hour CIT training through a pre-/post-survey of 78 law enforcement personnel who completed the voluntary 40-hour CIT in-service training. Significant training effects were observed for the 8-hour and 40-hour CIT training programs. Results offer support for continued implementation of the 8-hour CIT training component in BLEA and the 40-hour CIT training. Implications for continued improvements to law enforcement training are discussed