Staff Impact

Custody/Operations

All staff members, including Custody will be trained in Core Correctional Practices (CCP), so that everyone understands what evidence-based programs are and how to positively support them. Custody staff members will also be aware of NRAS and how to navigate the tool in NOTIS in order to determine what programs that an inmate has been assigned to. No longer will custody staff only be custody-minded, they will now also be rehabilitative.

Caseworkers

Casework staff will be also be trained in CCP, as well as NRAS but their main focus will be training in Case Planning, so that they are able to build a “case plan” appropriate to each inmate’s Risk/Criminogenic Needs that supports their programming. In regards to reducing redundancies and creating automation, the department plans to implement an electronic Case Plan into NOTIS, so that the individual case plans follow the inmates not only from institution to institution, but also from incarceration to parole and/or release. We plan to work closely with Nevada Parole and Probation, Ridge House and Freedom House on Case planning and monitoring. In 5 years, the department plans to have everything stored in an electronic database for multiple state agencies. In this, the state will create automation, reduce workloads, redundancies and allow for cohesive planning across all state departments.

Mental Health

The grant will most influence Mental Health staff members in focusing on facilitating Evidence-Based Programming and Rehabilitation. This will affect the restructuring of workloads, incorporate more Evidence-Based Programming and ensure the fidelity and validity of those programs through program audit instruments. All Mental Health Staff will be exposed to CCP but their main focus will be training in NRAS, so that they are able to place each inmate into a program appropriate to their Risk/Criminogenic Needs. This will assist in the strategic guidance to measure the benchmarks of public programming and help to incorporate proven rehabilitation initiatives that prepare individuals for successful reintegration into our community.

Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse staff will also receive training in CCP, but their main focus will be training in NRAS, so that they are able to place each inmate into a program appropriate to their Risk/Criminogenic Needs and program them while incarcerated, prior to their release into the community.

Re-entry  

Re-entry staff will be trained in CCP and NRAS, but will focus mainly on programming the inmates in-house, while incarcerated and then provide a “warm hand-off” to our community partners upon each inmate’s re-entry into the community.

Medical  

The foundation laid by a culture utilizing Core Correctional Practices will have clear benefits to medical staff at NDOC. For NDOC medical staff, the most apparent benefits of the improved culture will be better quality communication, coordination and treatment outcomes.  Inmates who trust and have respect for staff will be more honest and open in their communication with them. Improved health communication and self-disclosure from inmate patients will lead to better treatment outcomes. Thus, ensuring a more safe and humane environment for staff and inmates alike.

Programs

In the past, programming within NDOC seemed to take a “hit or miss” approach, meaning we would implement a program, facilitate the program and then send the inmate on their way.  There was no fidelity in delivery, no accountability on the part of instructors, no research or evidence that it would “work,” or even a clear goal for the program to reach.

Today, programming within NDOC is targeted to offenders measured as most at-risk to recidivate by the various versions of the Nevada Recidivism Assessment System (NRAS). All metrics involved in programming are now measured and documented to insure fidelity in delivery of programming. All programming utilizes evidence-based approaches that have been shown by university and independent research to be effective.  All programming is aimed at the coordinated goal of reducing recidivism in Nevada. At the forefront of current programming is Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

MRT is cognitive-behavioral therapy facilitated in groups by trained NDOC staff. When delivered with fidelity, this evidence-based approach is shown to reduce recidivism by up to 30%. Many facilities have implemented MRT into programming and more will follow their lead. The coordinated efforts of programming staff, psychologists, mental health counselors under the direction of the AWPs and Wardens will help Nevada to reduce its recidivism rate.

For these reasons, comprehensive NRAS training, an inclusive culture utilizing Core Correctional Practices and utilizing evidence-based programming (MRT), will provide the foundation for a humane environment that incorporates proven rehabilitative initiatives to prepare our clients for successful reintegration into our communities.

Fiscal/Support Staff

CCP will benefit fiscal and support staff by creating a more collaborative and rehabilitative culture. CCP will not only impact staff-to-inmate communications, it will also positively impact staff-to-staff communications. The trickle down of effective interpersonal communication will create a more inclusive and productive atmosphere for everyone in the NDOC community. Thus, ensuring a safe and humane environment for us all to help rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates into our communities.