The U.S. corrections enterprise is challenged by a variety of demographic, societal, and fiscal trends, and this report seeks to frame an innovation agenda by identifying and prioritizing potential improvements in technology, policy, and practice.

This book provides a comprehensive and positive reimagining of probation practice in England and Wales across all the key settings in which work with people subject to supervision takes place. Bringing together chapters co-authored by academics and practitioners, it offers an overall conceptualisation of the rehabilitative endeavour within the realities of a probation service recently unified after the acknowledged failure of the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms. Reimagining Probation Practice covers the main themes and job functions of probation practice, from court work to individual and group interventions, to resettlement and public protection, to partnerships, to education and training. Each chapter includes a brief critical history of the area of practice, the current policy context, the applicability of different forms of rehabilitation (personal, legal/judicial, social and moral) to this area of practice, an overview of current good practice and areas in need of development. The book argues that the principles of parsimony, proportionality and productiveness should be applied to the criminal justice system in its work to rehabilitate individuals. This book is essential reading for practitioners and all those engaged in probation training, as well as policy makers, leaders, managers and those interested in social and criminal justice. .

Given the challenges posed to the U.S. corrections sector, such as tightened budgets and increasingly complex populations under its charge, it is valuable to identify opportunities where changes in tools, practices, or approaches could improve performance. In this report, RAND researchers, with the help of a practitioner Corrections Advisory Panel, seek to map out an innovation agenda for the sector.

This book provides a record of the speeches and discussion of the conference that was held to review major standards and recommendations of the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals. This book is a companion to the six volumes of the Commission report, but it is not a statement of the Commission itself. This conference enabled criminal justice practitioners from across the nation to gain an overview of the Commission's work and an understanding of the intent of the Commission in developing its standards and goals. Other recent commissions have studied the causes and debilitating effects of crime in our society. This effort has sought to expand their work and build upon it, developing a clear statement of priorities, goals, and standards to help set a national strategy to reduce crime through the timely and equitable administration of justice; the protection of life, liberty, and property; and the efficient mobilization of resources. The Commission hopes that its standards and recommendations will influence the shape of the criminal justice system in the nation for many years to come. And it believes that adoption of those standards and recommendations will contribute to a measurable reduction of the amount of crime in America.

Correctional system operation and brief account of its development as background for the presentation of the directions it must take in the future. Modern corrections are moving toward more humane treatment and greater emphasis on rehabilitation and community supervision. The new corrections require extended research and program evaluation, better decision-making, improved organization, and more and better qualified staff. The most conspicuous problems in corrections today are lack of knowledge and unsystematic approach to the development of programs and techniques. Consideration is given to the role of corrections in intake and disposition, probation, alternatives to institutionalization, correctional institutions, parole and after-care, the misdemeanant in the correctional system, the legal status of the convicted person, manpower and training, and creating change.