The National Institute of Corrections' Restrictive Housing: Change Strategies for Success program offers participants an opportunity to increase their knowledge about Restrictive Housing and share best and promising practices with peers. To maximize the learning opportunities from this program, participants will be asked to review the DOJ Guiding Principles and watch two videos prior to the training, and complete intersession work related to the core topics. There are breakout group activities integrated throughout the program that serve as opportunities for the participants to demonstrate an understanding of the material, engage with counterparts from other agencies, and facilitate the peer learning process. Participants should come prepared for productive and interactive sessions as they work with their colleagues and counterparts to move their agency forward in the management of restrictive housing populations. Participants meet virtually once a week for approximately two hours over the course of five weeks. Between sessions, teams will work on assignments specific to their agency. The curriculum content and intersession assignments build towards a presentation that proposes a change or set of changes for their agency to consider prioritizing, and articulates why the recommendations are being made and the expected benefits.
This training is designed for agency teams of 3-5 members to include: Agency/Facility Leadership (e.g., Director of Operations, Warden, Superintendent), Programs/Security/Classification (e.g., Chief of Programs, Chief of Security, Classification Administrator), and Mental Health Director/Administrator/Supervisor. The key is to send a team knowledgeable of your restrictive housing policies, practices, and population and that has influence over policy change in their department.