Corrections Today

Submission Guidelines

 

Corrections Today is the professional membership publication of the American Correctional Association (ACA). Its international readership includes individuals involved in every sector of the corrections and criminal justice fields. The magazine, begun in 1939, currently has a circulation of 18,500, with a pass-along readership estimated as high as 75,000.

 

Our readers are committed to the advancement of the corrections field, and most play active roles in operating and administrating correctional facilities and systems. They cut across the spectrum of corrections, from individuals employed in correctional institutions, community corrections, and probation and parole to those in juvenile services and academia.

 

The magazine serves as a forum for presenting and discussing important issues related to corrections, including the presentation of minority or conflicting points of view. Its primary purpose is to offer practical information to promote the development of the field and those working in the field.

 

AUTHOR GUIDELINES

 

What kind of articles do we want? We’re very open-minded — as long as the article idea is interesting and relates to corrections. We’re interested in a variety of articles, including service (“how to”) pieces, articles outlining new programs and case studies, and articles on how agencies or systems handle controversial issues. We also accept opinion pieces for our “Speak Out” column and personal accounts of on-the-job experiences for “A View From the Line.”

 

We don’t like puff pieces or promotional articles. There should be news, information or an opinion behind the story. Articles should be written in journalistic style using third person rather than first person (avoid using “I, we, me, us,” etc.). We want information that can help our readers better understand their profession and the critical issues they face day to day. For this reason, our policy is that any article written by a consultant or an employee of a private firm must be co-authored by a corrections professional or academician. In other words, at least one author must be a practitioner employed by a public agency or nonprofit organization, or currently working in an adult/juvenile institutional or academic setting.

 

If you have not written for us before, send a written query telling us who you are and what kind of article you wish to submit. We’ll let you know if your idea has possibilities. If you have an article that already is written and conforms to these guidelines, send the completed manuscript. We'll respond as soon as possible, usually within eight to 10 weeks.

 

What Makes a Good CT Article?

 

Most magazine articles are organized in a simple format. First is the introduction. This captures the readers’ attention and lets them know what the article will be about. It orients them to time and place and tells them why the subject is important enough for them to take the time to read about it. An anecdote or sample situation often is useful in the introduction — it can be a great way to pique readers’ interest.

 

The middle section of the article develops the topic. This is the meat of the article and should explain, simply and clearly, the important points you'd like to make about your topic. When writing this section, try to put yourself in your readers' shoes. Make sure you're being detailed enough and giving enough examples to illustrate your point so they clearly understand the program, strategy or situation you are describing.

 

The final section is the conclusion. This should restate the main point of the article and should include any evaluations or recommendations you may have.

 

Finally, every good magazine article has three main qualities: an interesting subject, thorough research and reporting, and an organized writing style. Your article doesn't have to be perfect — our editors will help you enhance it if it is accepted — but it’s up to you to give the article focus.

 

Suggestions on Style

 

You can do a number of things to make your article come alive for readers. First, you should be familiar with the magazine and the type of material we publish. Reading Corrections Today is the best way to figure out how to make your article fit our readers’ needs.

 

Second, write clearly. In The Elements of Style, William Strunk makes these suggestions:

 

Ø  use the active rather than passive voice;

Ø  be specific, concrete and definite;

Ø  don’t overstate; and

Ø  avoid fancy words and jargon.

 

Submission Specifics

 

Corrections Today is a peer-review publication. This means that unsolicited manuscripts are sent to ACA members with expertise in the article's subject area for evaluation. Submission guidelines include:

 

Ø Manuscripts must be typed and double-spaced. If possible, e-mail them to susanc@aca.org as a Microsoft Word or WordPerfect attachment. You can also send a CD or disk with the article saved in the appropriate format. Manuscripts will not be returned.

 

Ø Ideally, articles should be 8 to 10 double-spaced, typed pages (2,000 to 2,500 words).

 

Ø Include your name, title, agency name, mailing address, e-mail address, office or home telephone number, and fax number.

 

Ø We must be notified in writing at the time of submission if you are submitting the article to any other publications. Corrections Today is a copyrighted magazine.

 

Ø Any references discussed in the text must be cited at the end of the article.

 

Ø Please do not format the article, as it will need to be reformatted to fit the style of the magazine.

 

Ø Include a resume or biographical information with your article.

 

Ø Submit photos or slides, as well as charts, graphs or diagrams with the manuscript to illustrate the topic. These should be placed at the end of the document.

 

If Your Article Is Accepted

 

Articles published in Corrections Today will be edited to conform to AP style, as well as Corrections Today style. You will be given a chance to review the edited version of your article before publication. The Association reserves the right to write article headlines and photo captions and to illustrate articles with art or file photos when more suitable photos are not provided by you.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDELINES

 

Photos are the first thing readers see when they look at a page. Photos draw attention to the page, leading the eye to the text. Often, important copy goes unread because a photograph is not striking enough to stop the browsing reader.

 

Techniques

 

Two qualities of good photographs are technical excellence and composition of interesting subject matter. Detail is achieved through proper picture-taking, sharp focus, correct exposure and a steady hand. Photographs also must have satisfactory contrast: An ideal print for reproduction should have a full range of tones — from very white, through many intermediate grays, to deep black.

 

Be sure to carefully frame your pictures. Define what you want in both the foreground and background; this is called “composing” the picture. You should be certain that the subject appears level and then center on the subject. Move in as close as possible to eliminate nonessential details in the foreground, background and sides. If your camera takes pictures that are larger in one dimension than the other, don’t forget to turn the camera to see if you can frame the subject better.

 

Types of Photos

 

The best photo is the one that appears unposed. Action photos make excellent shots. Action does not necessarily refer to physical movement, but rather to the subjects’ keeping busy — their being occupied with something that holds their attention. This prevents a picture from appearing static.

 

Take photos showing people, focusing on one or two. Crowd scenes (unless you’re showing prison crowding) make it difficult to see what you're trying to illustrate. A dramatic close-up photo may do a better job of making a statement.

 

If your article mentions a particular service, program or case study, photograph those involved — the employees, participants, family, etc. Familiar scenes can be photographed from an unusual perspective. For example, a typical counseling setting might dramatize the situation between a client and a correctional officer, capturing their facial expressions and body language.

 

Captions and Credits

 

Identify the subjects in the photos through a caption. Tell us what’s going on and who’s in the photo. Supply the name of the photographer or the person/agency who supplied the photo to you. But please do not write directly on the backs of photos because ink tends to bleed through and ruin the photo. It's best if you mount the photo on a piece of paper and write the necessary caption/credit information on it.

 

Photo Releases 

 

When photographing inmates, whether juveniles or adults, a release must be signed by the individual or individuals giving permission for the photo to be taken for publication. We require a release for any person photographed — even if the photo shows a back or side view. A copy of an existing release already on file for a photo you are submitting also is permissible. Securing a release takes a little extra work, but in the long run, it protects you and Corrections Today from any liability.

 

A NOTE ON REFERENCES

 

Corrections Today encourages authors to include references with their articles to allow our readers to do follow-up reading on the subjects. Because Corrections Today is a magazine and not a scholarly journal per se, we favor the use of references in lieu of citations directly within the text. Please follow the guidelines below when submitting references: