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Norval Morris Project Update July, 2011

The Project

The Norval Morris Project is dedicated to the memory of Norval Morris, who was instrumental in founding NIC and remained a guiding influence as a charter member of the NIC Advisory Board until he passed away in 2004. Since it was first established by the NIC Advisory Board, the Norval Morris Project has evolved into an open-ended effort to; locate innovative, evidence-based approaches from all fields; evaluate their potential to inform correctional policy and practice; develop and evaluate new strategies for the dissemination and application of this knowledge; and ultimately create opportunities to test these innovations in correctional settings. The project has sought to continue the spirit of Dr. Morris’ work and his belief that the field must make more effective use of applicable bodies of knowledge, especially empirical research. Over the last six years, the project has created a unique structure to identify, distill, and disseminate knowledge new to the field corrections.

In early 2011, an opportunity arose for NIC to do a project with the state of Virginia. The arrival of a new director of corrections, Harold Clark, who had been previously involved with the Norval Morris Project, allowed NIC to work with the AV DOC to develop a project on workforce development. This project has been designed to reinforce the work, already under way, in Virginia as part of the Adult Reentry Initiative. The Department of Corrections plays an integral role in Governor McDonnell’s re-entry initiative to improve offender transition from state facilities back into communities in Virginia. As part of this initiative, the Department is implementing improved practices including the development of individualized case plans based upon a risk and needs assessment and providing programs identified by research to be effective in preparing offenders for their transition to and stabilization in the community. In addition a major objective of the Department’s reentry plan is to improve collaboration with all stakeholders and to develop a strategic and unified approach to prevent crime, minimize victimization and improve public safety in the Commonwealth.

This project has been established to serve as a demonstration of a crafted work force transformation process that will identify Corrections worker operating practices and behaviors to support a “healing environment.” The joint VA DOC/NIC project will focus initially on leadership and senior management and expand over time to involve and effect the entire organization culture, with both top-down and bottom-up strategies. Senior managers will become learning coaches in the development of a culture embracing trust, collaboration and teamwork. They will also mentor middle managers who will, in turn, mentor line staff so that staff at all levels will learn and practice behaviors and communication skills that support offender change. In this way, offenders living in this healing environment will be exposed to increasing pro-social learning and will practice communications skills that will improve their chances for success.

The project is being carried out through two separate awards from NIC; the first is a cooperative agreement with Justice Assessment and Training (J-SAT) in Boulder, Colorado and the second is a cooperative agreement with Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. The two awards have been designed to work in tandem to draw on the strengths of each organization.

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