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Norval Morris Project Vision

The Project

This project develops processes for discovering and disseminating innovations, knowledge, and ideas that allow the fields of corrections and human services to enhance the services they provide to clients and communities. Leaders and experts from disciplines such as corrections, human services, business, research, large system change, and criminal justice will be recruited to provide project oversight and conduct in-depth studies of topics that have the potential to lead to far-reaching changes, within and without the field of corrections.

Two key questions will form the basis of the work of all Norval Morris Project participants:

  • Can research as it is currently structured and conducted be useful to corrections?

  • Can corrections as it is currently structured ever be evidence-based?


The first team of experts assembled will be the Keystone Group, an ongoing forum that allows experts in and outside of corrections to question current practices. Striving to prevent any status quo philosophy from becoming pervasive and entrenched, this forum enables the field to analyze current policies and consider new ideas and innovations not only from within corrections, but from other disciplines as well.

As the project progresses, additional teams of experts will be created to delve into the knowledge strategies that will drive future innovations in corrections and human services, with the potential for far-reaching change. Currently, two teams are addressing the topics of Corrections Workforce Transformation and Safely Reducing the Corrections Population. Additional team topics may result from the 2009 meeting of the Keystone Group.

Possible Project team products include:

  • New strategies for the dissemination and application of the knowledge

  • New strategies for evaluating innovations in the field

  • Research-based innovations in policies and programs

  • Implementation strategies for evidence-based programs and policies

  • Dissemination of evaluated programs and policies to the field

  • Research on programs and practices

  • Publications

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