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.