Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

National Institute of Corrections (NIC) (Washington DC)

  • Jail Design and Operation and the Constitution: An Overview

    The Constitution protects inmates in jails and prisons, and this paper discusses the continuing challenge of deciding what those protections mean i

  • Seven Steps To Plan a Better Jail

    This document describes the seven steps of systems planning for jails: getting started; get facts and figures; consider the data; make decisions; t

  • Managing Long-Term Inmates: A Guide for the Correctional Administrator

    This guide for correctional administrators explains the management of long-term inmates.

  • Liability Issues in Community Service Sanctions

    This report covers liability issues in community service sanctions.
  • New Approaches to Staff Safety

    Key staff safety training issues for community corrections agencies are discussed. This manual addresses:

  • Chronic Care Clinics: Protocols and Clinic Procedures

    Chronic care clinic procedures and protocols are provided for the following areas: cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal, hypertensio

  • Audits of Podular Direct-Supervision Jails

    Three facilities varying in size and region were audited to measure the state of the art in podular direct-supervision jails, to test how well dire

  • Women in Jail: Classification Issues

    The authors examine issues related to classification of female jail inmates by profiling the female inmate population and discussing problems assoc

  • Policy-Driven Responses to Probation and Parole Violations

    The author describes the experiences of probation and parole agencies from across the country that worked with NIC on developing innovative approac

  • Cost Effective In-Service Training Alternatives for Small Jails

    "This Training Resource Package recommends several cost-effective methods of providing in-service training for existing staff (p.3)." Sections of t

  • A Review of the Jail Function Within State Unified Corrections Systems

    A state unified system is one in which there is an integrated state-level prison and jail system.

  • Objective Jail Classification Systems: A Guide for Jail Administrators

    Objective jail classification (OJC) is a process of assessing every jail inmate's custody and program needs and is considered one of the most impor

  • Jail Design Guide: A Resource for Small and Medium-Sized Jails

    Addresses architectural design as it relates to functional components of the jail, discusses overall design considerations, and reviews pre-design

  • Managing Conflict in the Workplace [Satellite/Internet Broadcast on April 7, 1999]

    Among the more difficult challenges existing within personnel management is conflict resolution.

  • Effective Supervision of Adult Sex Offenders in the Community [Videoconference held February 9, 2000]

    The goal of this videoconference is to enhance the ability of probation and parole agency staff (line officers, supervisors, and policymakers/admin

  • National Institute of Corrections Prison Classification Peer Training and Strategy Session: What's Happening with Prison Classification Systems? September 6-7, 2000 Proceedings

    Proceedings from this two-day national forum on classification and information system related problems are provided.

  • Investigating Allegations of Staff Sexual Misconduct with Inmates [Lesson Plans]

    A curriculum to address the needs of those who investigate allegations of staff sexual misconduct is presented.

  • Group Facilitation Skills for Trainers

    This 16-hour course explores the skills needed in leading group participants to achieve specific learning goals.

  • Facilitation Skills for Managers: Training Curriculum Package

    This 16-hour course is designed for managers who run meetings and/or lead task groups. This curriculum is divided into seven modules:

  • Classification of Women Offenders: A National Assessment of Current Practices

    Findings from a telephone assessment of state and federal practices for classifying women offenders are presented.

  • Guidelines for Developing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee

    This guide is currently being to revised through a cooperative with National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA).

  • Internal Prison Classification Systems: Case Studies in Their Development and Implementation

    The development, implementation, impact assessment, and refinement of objective internal classification systems are examined.

  • Revalidating External Prison Classification Systems: The Experience of Ten States and Model for Classification Reform

    Work undertaken by the participating states is described, an outline of the fundamental tasks required for a revalidation effort is provided, and e

  • Classification of Women Offenders: A National Assessment of Current Practices and the Experiences of Three States

    The development of improved strategies for classifying female offenders is addressed. Sections of this report include:

  • Correctional Health Care: Guidelines for the Management of an Adequate Delivery System

    A comprehensive reference that provides guidance in the provision of health services to inmates is presented.

  • Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 1: Developing the Budget

    Designed for jail administrators, this guide discusses the elements of an effective process for budgeting both capital and operational jail expense

  • Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 3: Beyond Budget Allocation - Sources of Funding and Services

    Designed for jail administrators, this guide describes strategies for identifying, securing, and coordinating jai resources from multiple sources,

  • Budget Guide for Jail Administrators - Part 2: Managing the Budget

    Designed for jail administrators, this guide provides an overview of jail budget management, along with relevant responsibilities and strategies.

  • Staff Sexual Misconduct with Inmates: Policy Development Guide for Sheriffs and Jail Administrators

    Tools to assess an organization and implement strategies to prevent staff sexual misconduct in a jail setting are provided.

  • Gender-Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders

    Guidance for those individuals "seeking to more effectively respond to the behavior and circumstances of the female offender" is offered (p. iv).

  • Designing Learner Centered Instruction

    A seven-step process for developing and designing a training program according to the ITIP (instructional theory into practice) format is described

  • Effective Prison Mental Health Services: Guidelines to Expand and Improve Treatment

    "[H]istorical , legal, and ethical issues relevant to dealing with mental illness in the field of corrections" are discussed (p. iii).

  • Developing and Revising Detention Facility Policies and Procedures

    A "basic, updated guide to assist local detention administrators in developing and revising their policy and procedure manuals" is presented (p.

  • Beyond the Myths: The Jail in Your Community

    This resource provides a foundation for the efforts of sheriffs and jail administrators to provide the public information about jails generally, th

  • Correctional Health Care: Addressing the Needs of Elderly, Chronically Ill, and Terminally Ill Inmates

    An exploratory report regarding the management of aging and infirm inmates is presented. Six chapters follow an executive summary:

  • Developing Gender-Specific Classification Systems for Women Offenders

    A report which highlights the results of two cooperative agreements from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) addressing the critical need f

  • Prisoner Intake Systems: Assessing Needs and Classifying Prisoners

    Tasks, assessments, and technology used in prisoner intake systems are examined.

  • Issues in Jail Operations, 2003: Perspectives from State Jail Inspection Agencies

    "[A]reas in which jails tend to be deficient, suggesting the need for new or revised forms of NIC assistance" are identified (p.2).

  • Implementing Effective Correctional Management of Offenders in the Community: An Integrated Model

    An introduction to an integrated model for the implementation of evidence-based principles in community corrections is provided.

  • Implementing Evidence-Based Principles in Community Corrections: Collaboration for Systemic Change in the Criminal Justice System

    The use of collaboration to implement an integrated system reform model is explained.

  • Implementing Evidence-Based Principles in Community Corrections: Leading Organizational Change and Development

    Organizational development (OD) concepts and strategies that foster organizational change and reform are described.

  • Classification of High-Risk and Special Management Prisoners: A National Assessment of Current Practices

    Results from a survey "designed to obtain information on the procedures used to classify high-risk inmates, particularly those in protective custod

  • LJN Exchange, Annual Issue 2004; Large Jail Network Exchange, Annual Issue 2004

    This issue includes: Foreword, by Richard Geaither, National Institute of Corrections Jails Division; You Can Do It: Putting an End to Pharmacy Cos

  • Resource Manual for Transition to a New Jail

    "[T]his resource document will assist agencies starting the process of planning for a successful transition to a new detention facility" (p. iii).

  • Supervision of Women Defendants and Offenders in the Community

    The use of gender-responsive strategies with women involved in the community corrections system is explained.

  • Project Guide: Objective Classification Analysis

    The use of an objective classification system (OCS) is described.

  • Project Guide: Tribal Justice System Assessment

    "[D]irection to tribal jurisdictions interested in conducting a justice system assessment for the purposes of addressing systemic issues raised in