National Institute of Corrections Library

The National Institute of Corrections 'has incorporated outcome measures and performance standards into the work that they do across the country to determine if those activities were having an impact and benefiting the field ' One of the primary means by which NIC approached this work was through the development of the Institutional Corrections Research Network (ICRN) ' a group of correctional administrators and corrections researchers that meets annually to discuss research in the field of corrections. More specifically, the group keeps abreast of the research record in corrections; discusses research that is either currently being done or should be done; thus helping NIC to ensure that the projects that they fund are meeting the needs of corrections practitioners and policymakers' (p. 2). Sections of this report include: the Institutional Corrections Research Network (ICRN); overview of the ICRN Initiative; ICRN major activities and outcomes; resources available to ICRN through the ASCA Clearinghouse; significant issues raised at ICRN meetings; content analysis of the ICRN meetings; research that addresses the needs of corrections' practitioners; abstracts of practitioner relevant research materials; and conclusion'results, recommendations, and actions undertaken. SOURCE: Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) (Middletown, MD).

'In the present quantitative review, we focus on the validity of special explanations of adolescent sexual offending that are testable by comparing adolescent sex offenders with other adolescent offenders 'We contrast offense-specific theories with the more parsimonious view that sexual offending is simply one of many manifestations of general antisocial tendencies (which we also refer to as the 'general delinquency explanation') and therefore can be explained with the same risk factors and processes that have been successfully used in research on juvenile delinquency' (p. 529). Topics covered include: theories of sexual offending; comparing theories; methodological considerations; purpose of this quantitative review; the general delinquency explanation; special explanations of adolescent sexual offending; the sexually abuses sexual offender; poor childhood attachment; social incompetence; sexual development; atypical sexual interests; psychopathology; cognitive abilities; the importance of victim age; overview of hypothesis; method; results age at first criminal justice contact, extent of criminal involvement, conduct problems, antisocial tendencies, substance abuse, general delinquency risk factors and victim age, childhood abuse and exposure to violence, family problems, interpersonal problems, sexuality, psychopathology, cognitive abilities, and impression management; and discussion'theories of sexual offending, special explanation for sexually abused sexual abuser, other special explanations, general delinquency explanation, and future directions. Authored by Seto, Michael C.; Lalumiere, Martin L..

The ability of a mental health screening tool, such as the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2nd Version (MAYSI-2) to successfully assess a detained juvenile's mental state is examined. Sections comprising this brief are: background; mental health symptoms being common at detention intake; whether screening may ultimately lead to greater availability of services; disruptive incidents being the same before and after screening; whether screening scores could have helped staff anticipate disruptions; and implications for policy and practice. 'Findings indicate that in most [juvenile detention] centers staff did increase their efforts to obtain services and to take suicide precautions where needed. In addition, when services were not available, the ability to identify youths was sometimes helpful in finding or creating the needed services. Screening did not reduce the number of disruptive incidents; that may require additional training' (p. 1). SOURCE: Models for Change (Washington, DC). Authored by Williams, Valerie; Grisso, Thomas.

This website provides access to “new case law digests, designed to provide up to date information about the evolving legal responsibilities and liabilities for correctional employees and facilities. In light of an increasing amount of litigation involving both correctional staff and supervisors, these case law digests can provide a starting point for understanding the dynamics of legal liability in custodial settings.” Currently there are two publications “Cross-gender Searches: A Case Law Survey” and “Sexual Abuse in Custody: A Case Law Survey” both by Brenda V. Smith and Melissa C. Loomis. Cases are organized according to circuit and cases related (if applicable) to female correctional staff/male inmate, male correctional staff/male inmate, male correctional staff/female inmate, inmate on inmate, juvenile—male correctional officer/female detainee, juvenile—correctional staff/detainee, juvenile, and juvenile—detainee on detainee. Each case also notes if the inmate or detainee had a successful claim, or the agency had a successful defense. SOURCE: American University. Washington School of Law (Washington, DC).