We've compiled top highlights from recent research, policy, and practice resources across the world for our latest IACFP International News summary. Our topics for November and December 2024 include IACFP updates; recent research, policy, and practice; and upcoming conferences.
1. IACFP Updates
IACFP Board Planning for Future
The IACFP Board held their annual in-person meeting 28-30 October 2024 in Salem, Oregon, US. In addition to a business meeting and a facilitated strategic planning discussion to establish future goals, the Board spent a day at the Oregon State Penitentiary learning about the Oregon Way, including their behavioral health programs and staff wellness initiatives. They also spent a morning learning about the Oregon Judicial Department’s therapeutic courts, particularly their mental health courts.
During the focused planning session, the Board affirmed IACFP’s intentional focus on our members and practitioners, and revised our mission statement to better reflect that focus:
Mission: To support correctional and forensic psychologists and other helping professionals who work with justice-involved individuals in order to advance the development and implementation of evidence- and practitioner-informed policies and practices.
The Board also identified five focused strategies for the future:
- Professional development
- Partnerships
- Network for Correctional Mental Health Leaders
- Learning and research to share
- Justice-involved/lived experience
Action plans and a proposed budget to support implementation will be considered by the board for adoption in January 2025. These will be shared in the next issue of the IACFP Bulletin.
Jessica Borg Nominated for IACFP President-Elect
At the recent IACFP Board meeting, Jessica Borg was nominated for the role of President-Elect, succeeding Dr. Emma Black. Below is her statement accepting the nomination and offering her vision and credentials.
I am honoured to have been nominated to be IACFP President. I am confident that I can work effectively with our diverse and expert Board members to achieve our strategic goals.
I have 18 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist in New Zealand in mental health and corrections. My roles in corrections include operational, strategic, and leadership functions. These functions involved the assessment and treatment of people with violent and sexual offences; providing reports to the Parole Board and courts; designing, reviewing, and evaluating offence-focused evidence-based rehabilitation programmes, policies, and practices. As Chief Psychologist, I lead psychology teams in second line assurance functions, research, workforce development, and programme design. I provide advice to the CEO, the Parole Board, and the Minister of Corrections, and contribute to policy and legislation review. I hold critical relationships with correctional leaders in Australia, the UK, Canada, and the US to collaborate on training and research opportunities and development of our workforces. I am passionate about human rights for people who are incarcerated and was awarded a scholarship for a Master’s in Human Rights from the EU in 2006.
I believe I have the drive, skill, and experience required for President-Elect of this Board. The work of psychologists in the forensic and correctional spaces is complex and subject to significant legal and ethical challenges. I believe that IACFP can be valuable in enabling research and support for clinicians navigating these complexities. As President-Elect I would look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to strengthen this function of our organisation.
All ballots must be received by executivedirectoriacfp@gmail.com no later than COB 30 December 2024.
2. Research
Criminological Highlights is published several times each year by the University of Toronto Criminology Department. Each issue contains conclusions for each of the eight articles included in the issue. This is then followed by summaries of each article. Since they scan approximately 120 journals to identify interesting criminological research, IACFP members may find this a welcome support for keeping up with current research.
The most recent issue can be found at Criminological Highlights, Vol. 21, No. 6 - November 2024. The questions addressed in this issue are:
- How should differential arrest rates across racialized groups be interpreted?
- If a Black person has the same arrest record as a White person, have they offended equally?
- Are “undocumented” immigrants especially likely to commit criminal offences?
- What happens to a person’s involvement in crime when they move into a neighbourhood with a high concentration of immigrants?
- What is the most effective criminal justice response to a violation of probation?
- Can planting grass stop crime?
- Is urban greenspace associated with crime?
- Should criminal justice officials “override” security classifications of youths?
3. Policy
The Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign began in early 2024 and officially launched in November. The two founding organizations are One Voice United, which represents correctional officers, and FAMM, which represents incarcerated people and their families. It is supported by Arnold Ventures.
The campaign and partnership was driven by conditions inside prisons in the US. Safer Prisons, Safer Communities advocates for reforms that will improve the lives of corrections officers and incarcerated people alike, improve rehabilitation and reintegration opportunities, and enhance community safety. While the campaign was established in the US, the conditions that prompted it and the reforms it seeks to achieve have global application. Learn more at the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities website.
4. Upcoming Events
THE ACA WINTER CONFERENCE, 10 - 14 January 2025
The ACA Winter Conference will take place 10 - 14 January 2025 in Orlando, FL. More information on the conference as well as registration can be accessed here.
WOMEN IN CORRECTIONS CONFERENCE, 19 - 21 February 2025
The Thailand Institute for Justice and ICPA are hosting the “Women in Corrections Conference 2025” in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 - 21 February 2025. Information on registration, housing, etc. will be available at www.icpa.org.
CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2025, 24 - 27 February 2025
Immediately following the Women in Corrections Conference, the ICPA will host the Corrections Technology Conference 2025 from 24-27 February 2025. More information on the conference and registration can be found at www.icpa.org.
