Resource Centers Provide Support for Criminal Justice Practitioners

By Jenna Scafuri

At ACA’s 2011 Winter Conference in San Antonio, representatives from three key resource centers funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) presented information on how to best utilize their services at the session titled “Utilizing the Resource Center Model to Facilitate Correctional Planning and Program Development.” Moderated by Gary Dennis, senior policy advisor for corrections at BJA, the knowledgeable panel members answered questions about their respective BJA programs. The panel included Harriet Heiberg, project coordinator for the National Training and Technical Assistance Center; Michael Thompson, director of the Council of State Governments Justice Center; Peggy Burke, principal for the Center for Effective Public Policy, Silver Spring, Md.; and Becki Ney, principal for the Center for Effective Public Policy, Hatboro, Pa. All of the speakers emphasized their programs’ commitment to supporting practitioners in the corrections field and their desire to serve as a resource for those individuals, whether it be Second Chance Act grantees, paroling authorities or policymakers who work with justice involved women. Each program offers strong online resources ranging from directories and databases to webinars and podcasts. The speakers also highlighted the training and technical assistance aspects of their programs, emphasizing the need for criminal justice practitioners to continue to increase their knowledge base of the resources available in the field.

The National Training and Technical Assistance Center’s (NTTAC) main goals are to assess criminal justice practitioner needs and offer effective solutions by providing services such as training, technical assistance and online resources. This includes curriculum development, training programs, distance learning training, peer-to-peer visits, focus/advisory group meetings, provision of faculty and office-based technical assistance. Administered by Fox Valley Technical College out of Wisconsin, NTTAC supports practitioners in corrections, law enforcement, adjudication, sentencing, prosecution, courts and community service. “We’re here to fill in the gaps in the field,” said Harriet Heiberg, project coordinator for NTTAC. “We take the information we learn in the field and bring it back to BJA to facilitate further discussions.” NTTAC works in collaboration with BJA policy advisors and training and technical assistance providers to maintain a comprehensive website and offers webinars the second Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. on topics such as grant writing. “We help identify what problems criminal justice practitioners are facing and find experts in the field to work with them,” said Heiberg. “If there’s an issue that doesn’t seem to fit in existing categories, we’ll help narrow down what the problems are, what you want to address, and what your goals and objectives are, in order to work with BJA and policy advisors to design a program for you.”  To apply for training or technical assistance, or to learn more about NTTAC, visit www.bjatraining.org, or e-mail bja.ntta@fvtc.edu.

The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC), a project of the Council of State Governors (CSG) Justice Center, aims to be a “one-stop source for reentry information,” according to Michael Thompson, director of the CSG Justice Center. NRRC also aims to identify, document and promote evidence-based practices; deliver individualized, targeted technical assistance to the Second Chance Act grantees; and advance the reentry field through training, distance learning and knowledge development. “NRCC is not only set up to serve those in the reentry field, but also families and individuals who are coming out of prison and jail,” said Thompson. “We want them to know what resources are available to them, both locally and in their states.” NRRC provides broad-based distance learning through its website. Features such as a local programs database, reentry services directory and an interactive map of national criminal justice initiatives help connect programs and practitioners in the field within their states and across the country. Free webinars, webcasts and newsletters are also offered on the website. On May 26-27, 2010, NRRC held a training event for sites that received grant support from the Second Chance Act. Handouts, PowerPoint presentations and conference session videos are available online. To view these resources and find out more information about NRRC, visit www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org.

The National Parole Resource Center (NPRC) is a specialized organization administered by the Center for Effective Public Policy in collaboration with the Association of Paroling Authorities International and the Urban Institute, focusing on the role that paroling authorities play in the criminal justice system. Paroling authorities have varied roles across different states, and NPRC strives to be a source of information, training and technical assistance for all paroling authority members and the supervision agencies they collaborate with or oversee. “Paroling authorities have enormous responsibilities and impact upon the criminal justice system,” said Peggy Burke, principle for the Center for Effective Public Policy, and NPRC project director. “In addition to the more than 125,000 offenders that they make release decisions on per year, paroling authorities also set conditions of release for more than 300,000 per year. The idea of this resource center is to be a source of information support for that audience.” NPRC’s Planned Assistance Strategy currently provides intensive off-site technical assistance (telephone and e-mail support) and on-site assistance (workshops, continuity retreats, etc.) to paroling authorities and supervision agencies by working with them regarding vision, mission and decision-making practices and tools. The NPRC website is tailored to the needs of paroling authorities with links to all key relevant literature and other helpful websites. NPRC has developed “practice targets” that outline best practices in the field that are effective in enhancing public safety and the use of public resources. More information can be found on the NPRC website, www.nationalparoleresourcecenter.org.

The National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women is a new initiative of BJA with the goal of providing guidance and support to criminal justice policymakers and other professionals who work with justice involved women. Funded by the BJA in partnership with the National Institute of Corrections and administered by the Center for Effective Public Policy, the ultimate aim of the center is to reduce recidivism and increase successful outcomes for women involved in the justice system. “There is emerging research that shows that when we apply gender responsive approaches, we do get better outcomes,” said Becki Ney, principal for the Center for Effective Public Policy, and project director of the resource center. “Just like when we apply risk and dynamic needs assessment tools for a population and address those needs that are criminogenic, we do see a significant reduction in recidivism.” In 2009, there were about 1.27 million women under correctional supervision — which is 17 percent of all offenders. The resource center strives to build a community of professionals to encourage the exchange of ideas and information regarding this population and advance gender-informed practices. They provide technical training assistance, trainings and webinars on key topics, and policy and practice briefs. A website will be launching soon. For more information, contact Becki Ney at Bney@cepp.com.

Jenna Scafuri is assistant editor of On the Line.

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