The myriad of challenges with correctional change: From goals to culture

Abstract

Presently, many correctional organizations seek to change both policy and practice to improve offender outcomes. The occupational roles played by both staff and management represent an imperative part of the change equation. This article provides a historical and scientific overview of the scholarship on occupational roles within correctional agencies discussing how theoretical shifts in ideology impact correctional organizations and how correctional workers think, behave and make decisions regarding the individuals they supervise. We focus on the current shift emphasizing the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs), which presents new challenges for correctional organizations. We present two case examples of EBP implementation; one aiming to shift the correctional culture and communication within a correctional facility and the second focusing on the implementation of contingency management in community corrections settings. This research highlights the challenges associated with change within correctional environments, but also provides promising findings regarding successful implementation of EBPs within correctional organizations.