During the most recent IACFP board meeting, there was discussion on how exciting it would be to bring together past IACFP Distinguished Scholars to discuss criminal justice reform on a video platform. The opportunity was not possible due to scheduling challenges; however, Fergus McNeill shared a video with us that discussed the issues of community integration for individuals who have experienced the criminal justice system. This discussion involved three IACFP Distinguished Scholars: Reuben Miller, Shadd Maruna, and Fergus McNeill, as well as Marguerite Schinkel, Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow. This article summarizes the video. Punishment and Reintegration The panel first … [Read more...] about Life After State Punishment: A Conversation with IACFP Distinguished Scholars on the Criminal Justice System

Front Row (left to right): Frank Porporino, Melvin Hinton, Diane Williams, Dick Althouse Back Row (left to right): Jim DeGroot, Jeffrey Metzner, Emma Regan, Gabriel Ong, Matt Epperson The IACFP Board held its first in-person meeting in nearly three years in November 2022. In addition to conducting the business of the Association, the Board spent significant time on developing their strategic focus for the future and tactical and operational plans. The board has identified three areas for strategic focus: International Strategy Professional Education and Support Community Corrections The international strategy is proposed to have five areas of focus: 1) geographic … [Read more...] about IACFP Board in Action: Back In Person After Three Years

A recent article in Youth Justice highlights criminal justice reform efforts in the Netherlands designed to take a more flexible approach to sentencing adolescents and young adults. Here, we summarize the reasoning behind these changes, including the challenges specific to a youth population in the justice system; lessons learned from the new procedure used by the Dutch; and potential implications for other countries in how they approach sentencing adolescents and young adults. The full article "Young Adults in the Justice System: The Interplay between Scientific Insights, Legal Reform and Implementation in Practice in The Netherlands" by va P. Schmidt, Stephanie E. Rap, and Ton Liefaard can … [Read more...] about Criminal Justice Reform: Netherlands Using New Approach to Sentencing Adolescents and Young Adults

Joe Bugher started his career with the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) as a correctional officer. After several years in that role, followed by seven years as a correctional counselor, he was promoted to positions in mental health and management within the department. Recently he visited Norway through the Correctional Leaders Immersion Program. This article summarizes his observations during that visit and what he views as next steps in implementation in his work as a leader for the Oregon Way model. The purpose of the visit to Norway was to expose the correctional leaders from Oregon, California, and North Dakota—50% of whom were health care leaders—to correctional practices in … [Read more...] about Interview with Joe Bugher, Assistant Director of Health Services, Oregon DOC, on the Oregon Way Model

A recent article in Criminal Justice and Behavior highlights results from a new pilot trial program using Family Connect, an intervention designed to link youth involved in the juvenile justice system to appropriate behavioral health resources. Here, we summarize the trial parameters, the authors' key takeaways, and their recommendations for future trials of the Family Connect intervention. Context of Family Connect Substance use and substance use disorders (SUD) are more common among justice-involved youth than those in the general population, with 25% to 50% of youth involved in the juvenile justice system reporting an SUD, compared to only 10% in the general population. In … [Read more...] about Integration of Behavioral Health into Juvenile Justice: A Summary of the Family Connect Pilot

For those following criminal justice reform efforts across the world, Chapter 17 in the Research Handbook on Law and Emotion provides an interesting recommendation from Australian researchers wishing to push against what they deem a punitive approach adopted by their country. "Engaging head and heart: An Australian story on the role of compassion in criminal justice reform" explores the application of a more humanistic "response to offenders" wherein compassion guides decision-making. Here, we summarize the chapter and highlight key takeaways that may be of use to practitioners in the field. Chapter Inspiration The authors begin by identifying the current process of criminal … [Read more...] about Applying Compassion to Criminal Justice Reform in Australia: Chapter Summary

Over the past five years I have been hearing about the Forensic Psychiatric Centers (FPCs) operating in Belgium. I first heard about FPC Ghent and then later FPC Antwerp. Hearing and reading about these centers, which utilize a unique way of providing both security and treatment for justice-involved individuals with psychiatric problems, is very different from seeing them in action. In June 2022, I was able to visit FPC Ghent and observe not only a unique facility design but also a comprehensive and individualized approach to treatment. In Belgium, internment is the most severe security measure to compel offenders with psychiatric problems to undergo treatment. These individuals have … [Read more...] about Forensic Psychiatric Centers Offer Unique Approach to Treating Justice-Involved Individuals with Psychiatric Problems

A recent article in Criminal Justice and Behavior features research examining the relationship between perceived dangerousness and fear experienced by community corrections personnel and workplace performance. The authors sought to identify predictors of perceived dangerousness and the emotion of fear, as well as the impact such experiences might have on negative outcomes for personnel. In this article, we summarize key takeaways from the study and consider how the findings might apply to practitioners in the field. Research Purpose Prior research conducted with correctional officers who work in institutional settings has shown a connection between their perceptions of danger and … [Read more...] about The Relationship Between Perceptions of Safety and Workplace Outcomes for Community Corrections Personnel: A Research Summary

Caroline Lim, Director of Rehabilitation and Reintegration with the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), recently presented a workshop on “Community Partnerships and Mobilisation in Corrections” at the American Correctional Association Annual Conference. Her presentation summarized the transformation journey that SPS has taken over the last twenty years. Her presentation was engaging and shared how comprehensive community partnerships and inclusion of both individual and organizational volunteers can assist in the change process with justice-involved individuals. It is noteworthy that during the twenty-year transformation process, SPS has documented a reduction in the two-year recidivism rate … [Read more...] about Community Partnerships and Mobilisation in Corrections: A Focus on Singapore Prison Service