Understanding alternative sentencing options to incarceration and the role of social workers in supporting individuals in community-based programs.
Introduction to community-based corrections: An overview of what community-based corrections entail, including its principles, goals, and objectives.
Rehabilitation and treatment: A comprehensive understanding of how rehabilitation and treatment are implemented in community-based corrections, including drug treatment programs, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and other evidence-based practices.
Community supervision and monitoring: An understanding of the concepts, practices, and principles of community supervision and monitoring, including risk assessment, compliance monitoring, and recidivism reduction.
Restorative Justice: An understanding of the principles and practices of restorative justice, including its procedures, goals, and objectives.
Case management: An understanding of the critical roles of case managers in community-based corrections, including assessment, support, linkage to community resources, and monitoring.
Offender reentry: An understanding of the corrections process of managing community reentry by offenders following release from prison, including the creation of appropriate conditions that will enhance the chances for a successful re-entry.
Probation and parole: An overview of probation and parole in community-based corrections, including its legal framework, functions, and constraints.
Crisis intervention and conflict resolution: An understanding of crisis intervention and conflict resolution strategies in community-based corrections, including how these strategies are used to manage challenges and help offenders attain their rehabilitative goals.
Victim services and support: An overview of the services provided by community-based corrections to victims of crime, including victim support groups, counseling, and assistance programs.
Ethical considerations in Corrections Social Work: An understanding of ethical standards and considerations as they affect Corrections Social Work, including confidentiality, accountability, boundary issues, and informed consent.
Probation: A type of community-based correctional option intended for offenders who are first-time & non-violent offenders. Instead of going to jail, offenders are permitted to reside within their house and follow specific guidelines and regulations.
Parole: This option allows an offender to stay in their respective home under partial state supervision. This is reserved for offenders that were earlier in jail and accumulated an adequate amount of time.
Halfway houses: These houses are situated in residential areas for offenders to stay under supervision till they complete their probation or parole time. This option provides a secure environment and reintegration initiatives to help offenders adjust to their community after their release.
Community service: Instead of spending time in jail, community service is an alternative corrective measure. The goal of this type of community-based correction is to provide the best options for an offender to pay back their debt to society.
Electronic monitoring: A method of community-based correction that depends on wearing and carrying electronic devices that monitor individual activities, effectively acting as an alternative to having an offender in jail.
Fines: It involves paying a fine as a corrective measure for a range of offenses based on the severity.
Boot camps & vocational training: Designed for young adults who are the first time and non-violent offenders, education and practical training offered help them gain job-ready skills.
Restitution: This type of correctional option involves the offender restoring the community they’ve wronged. This option is highly encouraged for property crimes.
Drug courts: Court-supervised treatment programs targeting drug addiction. Participants are compelled to go through different stages of treatment and therapy, including life skill development.
Intensive probation: This correctional measure incorporates stricter compliance conditions compared to regular probation.
Mandatory Intensive Supervision: An intensive probation variation that requires offenders to follow a highly structured program, including curfews, random drug testing, and obligations.
Day reporting center: This option provides regular monitoring and counseling for an offender. It may also provide skills training and rehabilitation programs for specific offenders who need specialist rehabilitation initiatives.