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Green Corrections

The NIC Green Corrections Initiative seeks to increase awareness among corrections professionals about environmental issues related to the practice of corrections and focus attention on the need to make correctional facilities more energy and resource efficient. The initiative also explores the feasibility of introducing green-collar job readiness training programs in facilities, assessing the capability of correctional industries to adopt ”green” practices, and identifying strategies to assess cost saving options for correctional agencies that operate self-sustaining facilities and programs.

The NIC publication, The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System, provides a background for this initiative and highlights four main recommendations for the greening of prisons and jails.

Recommendation 1: Create a Sustainability Work Group

Recommendation 2: Hold a Retreat for Your Executive Team

Recommendation 3: Implement Budget Savings Strategies and Offender Employment Opportunities

Recommendation 4: Performance Management: Inspect What You Expect

The initial scope of the NIC Green Corrections Initiative included provision of technical assistance support for three states: Minnesota, Washington, and Maryland. These states worked to develop strategic plans for implementing or improving green corrections programs in their local area. A summary of the technical assistance results can be found in The Green Corrections Project: Action Plans and Lessons Learned. Project outcomes also included the creation of a community of practice to promote the use of green practices throughout country. From the community of practice and strategic plans, a framework for green corrections will be created and shared nationally.

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Recommended Reading

Date	Title	Type
2013	The Green Corrections Project: Action Plans and Lessons Learned By Davidson, Stephanie. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). This report is a great description of the three-phase Green Corrections project, sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The following sections comprise this publication: overview of the project; “The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System”—the publication and its dissemination; developing a community of practice and providing technical assistance to states; application process; Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington addressing a different technical assistance need... Read More	6 pages
2011	The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System By Feldbaum, Mindy; Greene, Frank; Kirschenbaum, Sarah; Mukamal, Debbie; Welsh, Megan; Pinderhughes, Raquel. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). AED. National Institute for Work and Learning (Washington, DC); National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). What are viable strategies for cutting costs while protecting the public’s safety? Corrections can achieve some substantial cost savings in sustainability or greening strategies. This publication “provides correctional professionals with a framework to gain a general understanding of sustainability practices and principles and to identify examples of operations, programs, and management strategies for self-sustaining facilities” (p. ii). Sections of this publication include: introduction; greeni... Read More	76 pages
2010	Greening Corrections: People, Programs, and Practices [Satellite/Internet Broadcast held July 14, 2010] National Institute of Corrections Academy (Aurora, CO). This program seeks to increase environmental awareness among corrections professionals and focuses attention on the need to make correctional facilities more energy and resource efficient. This broadcast: Explores the feasibility of introducing green collar job readiness training programs Assesses correctional industries capability to adopt “green” practices And identifies strategies to assess cost saving options for correctional agencies to operate “self sustaining” facilities and ... Read More	1 DVD (231 min.)
2009	Sustainable Prisons Project: Green, Inside and Out Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA); Washington State Dept. of Corrections (Olympia, WA). Information about the Sustainable Prisons Project whose aim is to help prisons "save money while rehabilitating" inmates is available at this website. Points of access are: about us; what we do -- pilot activities; media room -- scientific and popular press; and contact information.... Read More	2 p.

Related Resources

Date	Title	Type
2013	The Green Corrections Project: Action Plans and Lessons Learned By Davidson, Stephanie. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). This report is a great description of the three-phase Green Corrections project, sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The following sections comprise this publication: overview of the project; “The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System”—the publication and its dissemination; developing a community of practice and providing technical assistance to states; application process; Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington addressing a different technical assistance need... Read More	6 pages
2012	Juvenile Sex Offenders: Locked Up for Life? By Michels, Scott. Kennesaw State University. Center for Sustainable Journalism. Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JIIE) (Kennesaw, GA). In this article, "[m]edical experts raise questions about indefinite civil commitment for troubled youths." Topics addressed include: whether juvenile sex offenders are really the 'worst of the worst'; mandatory registration; the risk of re-offending being in flux'it can change quickly as the youth age; finding treatment; the case of Pennsylvania, the only state with a civil commitment program for juvenile sex offenders who age out of the juvenile justice system; and the recklessness of applyin... Read More	10 pages
2012	Juvenile Sex Offenders: Locked Up for Life? By Michels, Scott. Kennesaw State University. Center for Sustainable Journalism. Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JIIE) (Kennesaw, GA). In this article, "[m]edical experts raise questions about indefinite civil commitment for troubled youths." Topics addressed include: whether juvenile sex offenders are really the 'worst of the worst'; mandatory registration; the risk of re-offending being in flux'it can change quickly as the youth age; finding treatment; the case of Pennsylvania, the only state with a civil commitment program for juvenile sex offenders who age out of the juvenile justice system; and the recklessness of applyin... Read More	10 pages
2012	Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Three-Year Strategic Sustainability Plan Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Correction (Columbus, OH). 'The goals established in the Strategic Sustainability Plan frequently make sense by cutting our fuel and electricity costs, lowering waste disposal fees, and reducing our water usage and sewer bills. The plan also provides guidance on training offenders in environmental issues and provides them with green job skills that will prepare them to compete for employment upon their release and practice sustainability in their homes' (p. 1). Sections of this plan are: letter from the Director; executiv... Read More	16 pages
2012	greenprisons.org greenprisons.org (Richmond, KY ). “Your Source for News and Information on Environmentally Responsible Products and Services in the Corrections Industry.” Points of access are: about greenprisons; facility; newslinks; conferences; webinars; green programs; and resources.... Read More
2012	GreenPrisons.org GreenPrisons.org (Richmond, KY). “Your Source for News and Information on Environmentally Responsible Products and Services in the Corrections Industry.” Points of access include: green facility; green newslinks; conferences; webinars; green programs; and resources.... Read More
2011	Strategic Segregation in the Modern Prison By Dolovich, Sharon. 'In the Los Angeles County Jail'the biggest jail system in the country'officials have found a way to increase the personal security of gay men and trans women detainees without forcing them to choose between safety and community. For more than two decades, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department (the Department), which runs the County's jail system, has been systematically separating out the gay men and trans women admitted to the L.A. County Jail (the Jail) and housing them wholly apart from GP [g... Read More	110 pages
2011	Strategic Segregation in the Modern Prison By Dolovich, Sharon. 'In the Los Angeles County Jail'the biggest jail system in the country'officials have found a way to increase the personal security of gay men and trans women detainees without forcing them to choose between safety and community. For more than two decades, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department (the Department), which runs the County's jail system, has been systematically separating out the gay men and trans women admitted to the L.A. County Jail (the Jail) and housing them wholly apart from GP [g... Read More	110 pages
2011	The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System By Feldbaum, Mindy; Greene, Frank; Kirschenbaum, Sarah; Mukamal, Debbie; Welsh, Megan; Pinderhughes, Raquel. National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). AED. National Institute for Work and Learning (Washington, DC); National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). What are viable strategies for cutting costs while protecting the public’s safety? Corrections can achieve some substantial cost savings in sustainability or greening strategies. This publication “provides correctional professionals with a framework to gain a general understanding of sustainability practices and principles and to identify examples of operations, programs, and management strategies for self-sustaining facilities” (p. ii). Sections of this publication include: introduction; greeni... Read More	76 pages
2011	Greening Corrections Technology Guidebook By Sheldon, Paul M.; Atherton, Eugene. National Institute of Justice (Washington, DC). National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC). Correctional Technology Center of Excellence (CoE) (Rockville, MD). “The guidebook provides correctional administrators with a brief, yet comprehensive and informative, view of sustainability-oriented green technologies” (p. 6). Seven chapters follow an executive summary and introduction: integrating technology and people; lighting; HVAC systems; plug-in appliances (including pumps and motors); materials flow (including recycling and toxics); water; and energy (including transportation). Appendixes provide information about financing mechanisms and a case study ... Read More	59 pages
2010	Greening Corrections: People, Programs, and Practices [Satellite/Internet Broadcast held July 14, 2010] National Institute of Corrections Academy (Aurora, CO). This program seeks to increase environmental awareness among corrections professionals and focuses attention on the need to make correctional facilities more energy and resource efficient. This broadcast: Explores the feasibility of introducing green collar job readiness training programs Assesses correctional industries capability to adopt “green” practices And identifies strategies to assess cost saving options for correctional agencies to operate “self sustaining” facilities and ... Read More	1 DVD (231 min.)
2010	Prison Gardens a Growing Trend, Feeding Inmates on the Inside and Food Banks on the Outside By Cernansky, Rachel. planetgreen.discovery.com (New York, NY). “As inmates learn to care for a garden while in prison, they have more nutritious food to eat themselves, extra to share, and a valuable skill set for when they are released" (p.1). What is particulary nice about this article is its links to projects across the U.S. and the world.... Read More	2 p.