Professional Development

Tonya Brooks, the Online Corrections Academy administrator, left ACA in September to pursue new professional opportunities. Brooks had been with ACA for nine years. Diane Geiman, educational and training products manager, will be assuming oversight of OCA. The Professional Development and Publications departments are sharing two interns from the University of Mississippi this fall semester. The interns are Robyn Read and Amanda Williams. We are very pleased they have joined us.

ACA Joins Online Social Networking Community

Everyone’s talking about the online communities Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. Generations X, Y and Z are using them to stay connected, share information and network. Are you LinkedIn? How about on Facebook or MySpace? ACA is! Come join the conversation and stay updated on the latest news from ACA. Membership, conference news, training opportunities — they’re all there.

Online Corrections Academy (OCA) Accredited Agencies and Facilities

Did you know that OCA courses are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections for in-service training hours? Designed especially for correctional staff, the academy offers courses developed by experienced practitioners. OCA enables agencies to train staff at one location or multiple sites throughout the state, and track staff records with ease. Volume discounts are available for agencies.

Two additional options are available for agencies as well. Courses can be custom designed for agencies and agency training material can be converted into online courses. Training directors or administrators are encouraged to contact OCA staff to discuss their training needs. E-mail staff at ocacustomer@aca.org or call 1-800-222-5646, ext. 0172.

A free interactive demo is available at www.aca.org/online correctinos/ocademo.asp.

Click. Connect. Learn with OCA.

Corrections Certification Program Growing

Within the last two months, we have administered more than 150 examinations in a variety of categories. We have given group examinations to nurses employed by Wexford in Mississippi, Washington D.C. correctional officers and security threat group coordinators at the National Major Gang Task Force conference. In addition, we soon will be setting up exams for the nurses working for University of Texas Medical Branch.

President Clarke Establishes Correctional Training Committee

President Harold Clarke has established, for the first time in the history of ACA, a committee on correctional training. Michael Parsons, executive director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, is the chairman of this diverse and dynamic group of professionals dedicated to quality training in the corrections field. There are representatives on the committee from all divisions of corrections and law enforcement, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, military, adult jail, adult prison, adult probation/parole, peace officer, adult officer, adult community, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, NIC, BOP, juvenile community, juvenile detention, juvenile probation/parole, and juvenile officer.

The inaugural committee meeting will take place at the ACA Winter Conference in Kissimmee, Fla., in January 2009 and is open to all conference attendees. The creation of this committee reflects ACA’s commitment to the ongoing development of corrections professionals through progressive pre-service and in-service training.  

Hot Off the Press — New ACA Publications Now Available

2008 Directory of Adult and Juvenile Correctional Departments, Institutions, Agencies, and Probation and Parole Authorities

There is no better place to find the most current contacts and information than ACA’s 2008 Directory. It contains information on U.S. state and federal, plus Canadian provincial and federal, correctional systems. Each entry includes names, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone/fax numbers for the wardens and administrators of more than 6,000 adult and juvenile correctional departments, institutions, programs, and probation and parole/aftercare services. As with previous editions, this version includes an alphabetical Facility Locator and Personnel Locator to aid in finding staff. Institution/facility listings include year opened, capacity, average daily population, security level, offender type, cost of care and number of employees. Statistical summaries show capital expenditures and operating budgets, populations, programs and services, personnel, and much more. This edition includes top-10 lists, as well as Web sites. (2008, 1120 pages, 978-1-56991-271-3)

Item #331        • Nonmembers $125

                        • ACA members $100

Correctional Officer Resource Guide, 4th Edition

By Peria Duncan

This edition of an ACA best-seller is an essential reference manual that addresses all aspects of a correctional officer’s job. It is an excellent training tool that covers important issues that affect correctional officers in the day-to-day performance of their duties. Some of the topics discussed include corrections and the law, offender programming, security, emergency planning, medical and mental health issues, use of force, officer safety, and contraband. (2008, 176 pages, index, 978-1-56991-064-1)  

Item #341        • Nonmembers $40

                        • ACA members $32

Offenders and Substance Abuse: Bringing the Family into Focus

By Catherine Lemieux, Ph.D.

The family plays a very important role in most people’s lives, and offenders with substance abuse issues are no different. The family has long been an underutilized resource in the rehabilitation process. This book examines the dynamics associated with offenders and families affected by substance abuse issues. Areas discussed include: the family’s role in addiction; family-oriented interventions; family-oriented self-help groups; and the rates of substance abuse in female and black offender populations. (2008, 192 pages, 978-1-56991-274-4)

Item #354        • Nonmembers $35

                        • ACA members $28

Research Into Practice: Bridging the Gap in Community Corrections

Edited by Edward R. Rhine, Ph.D., and Donald G. Evans

Based on research from the 2005 and 2006 International Community Corrections Association (ICCA) meetings, this resource covers a wide array of topics related to community corrections for practitioners and those with a general interest in the criminal justice system. The essays address the assessment of offenders; correctional treatment and programming; principles that drive effective case management; families, communities and offender reentry; and strategies and promising modalities for dealing with behavioral and mental health disorders in correctional populations and in the larger arena of criminal justice. This is a must-have for anyone in community corrections. (2008, 456 pages. 978-156691-268-3)

Item #337        • $34.95 – no discount

 Click here to order these titles.

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