Why Community Corrections Matters

In this issue of Corrections Today, a number of community-based programs are highlighted. It would be worthwhile to take a moment to explore the importance of community-based efforts in the provision of community safety services. Community corrections has several important components that sometimes

In regard to the community, it is important that we make a distinction between a program and agency being merely situated in the community and being truly community-based. It is not enough to be in the community; it is critical to work with the community. second, the notion of corrections needs a wider definition than merely a means of sentence administration. Corrections in this context cannot be viewed as solely working with the individual offender, but rather, corrections should also be concerned about correcting injustices, social problems and advocating for improved social environments that foster pro-social behavior in some instances. Community corrections involves both holding the offender accountable for his or her actions and speaking to the responsibility and accountability of communities in preventing crime. In the articles that follow, you will find a broad range of programs that address various approaches to community corrections and that express the importance of having a broad perspective of what is meant by community corrections.

Community corrections is critical to the success of the criminal justice system and it is time that efforts to develop community justice, expand restorative approaches and employ evidence-based programs for the reduction of offending be given the support they require to be effective deliverers of community safety services. There are nine reasons that community corrections matters:

It is a way to protect the public and reduce re-offending. There has been recent emphasis on evidence-based practices that place importance on using programs that have proved to reduce offenders' re-offending behavior, which have been implemented in a number of jurisdictions. These programs suggest that rehabilitative efforts, if grounded in the "what works" research, are making a difference.

It is a way to provide support to victims of crime. More attention is being paid to the needs of victims for support and assistance by community corrections agencies. It is important that this work expand and that community corrections administrators hear the victims' voices and respond.

It is a way to work together to promote effective use of sanctions and resources. The work of reducing reoffending requires collaborative and cooperative action between and among the various criminal justice agencies, as well as the private and voluntary sectors. Together, the pooled resources - both intellectual and economic capital - can make a significant difference. Partnerships between various agencies have already demonstrated the importance of cooperation and sharing resources and information.

It is a way to build public confidence in the Justice system. Increasing public confidence is critical if the legitimacy of the justice system is to be maintained. The public and victims of crime need to see that someone is held accountable for criminal actions. However, public polling has shown that how the criminal justice system responds to criminal actions varies widely. This public mood expresses itself in advocating for punitive responses and also in wanting offenders to be rehabilitated. This raises questions about what is wanted from the criminal justice system and behooves those working in the system to listen carefully and respond appropriately.

It is a way to promote innovative and flexible programs to manage offenders. There is a need to develop and test interventions aimed at curbing crime and reducing re-offending; this is what serious community safety efforts demand. Community corrections and the voluntary, private and public sectors have made major contributions to ensuring an appropriate use of community sanctions and they have been at the forefront of efforts to use evidence-based practices in the provision of programs aimed at reducing re-offending.

It is a way to provide post-custody supervision and support. With more than 600,000 offenders a year being released from correctional facilities, it is clear that the re-entry challenge posed can only be met by a committed approach to community corrections. There is a storehouse of talent, skill and knowledge in working with and managing offenders in the community in the community corrections sector. There is little need to reinvent the wheel, but there is a need to harness the energies and resources of this sector and mobilize community corrections professionals to meet the challenge of offender transition to the community.

It is a way not only to bring offenders to justice but to assist them in breaking the cycle of offending. Effective community corrections programs and interventions are concerned with reducing noncompliance, not merely reporting noncompliance of supervision. Breaking the cycle of offending means that offenders can become productive, contributing members of the community.

It is a way to rethink how justice is delivered in communities. There have been significant innovations in the delivery of justice services in the community. Specialized courts dealing with drugs, domestic violence and youths have emerged. Restorative justice programs have been initiated in a number of jurisdictions. Probation and police partnerships have greatly enhanced the supervision of high-risk offenders. Programs for victims and witnesses have been improved. A renewed effort to work with the families and children of offenders is helping the next generation to break the cycle of crime.

It is a way to engage the community and build community capacity. Community corrections works to overcome barriers to inclusion. Advocating for housing, employment and education for offenders so that they will have a stake in conformity is an important aspect of the work of community corrections. An effort to improve the lives of victims and offenders so that they can see changes in their lives is a worthy objective of working with communities.

These nine points underscore the fact that community corrections matters and is a major contributor to community safety and to the enhancement of community life. However, much more still needs to be done. A greater effort of transforming policy into practice; exploring how courts, police and community corrections can ensure the effective use of community sanctions; and developing and delivering key services to offenders and their families as they return to the community are major challenges facing community corrections. As the articles in this issue demonstrate, community corrections is up to the challenge.