NCJ Number
55841
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEBRASKA'S CORRECTIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM--A JOINT LEGISLATIVE-EXECUTIVE EFFORT FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM--IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
POLICY ANALYSIS IS DECISION FOCUSED, ANTICIPATORY, ACTION-ORIENTED, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, AND TIME-LIMITED. THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSEQUENT ADOPTION OF NEBRASKA'S CORRECTIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COULD BE DESCRIBED IN THESE TERMS. THE PROGRAM IS ANTICIPATORY IN THAT IT IS A PHASED IN THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, WITH MODIFICATIONS BEING MADE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES, AND DECISION-FOCUSED SINCE IT DEPENDS ON THE DECISIONMAKING OF THE LEGISLATURE, APPROPRIATIONS, AND THE GOVERNOR FOR ITS EXISTENCE AND FUNDING. IT IS ACTION-ORIENTED IN THAT IT CALLS FOR AND ANTICIPATES IMPROVEMENT IN CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMING DURING THE NEXT 3 YEARS. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IS NECESSARY DURING THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES IN THE SEVEN DESIGNATED AREAS OF INMATE LABOR, INMATE RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROGRAMS, STAFF TRAINING, AND PROGRAM PLANNING. THE EVALUATION TEAM MEMBERS ARE FROM A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES AND PROFESSIONS DUE TO THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF THE PROGRAM. THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION PHASES OF THE PROGRAM WERE PARTICULARLY TIME-LIMITED, BECAUSE THE CONCEPT WAS CONCEIVED IN FEBRUARY, 1977, AND FINAL ADOPTION OCCURRED JUNE 1, 1977. INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IS DESCRIBED, AND THE USE OF POLICY ANALYSIS DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IS DESCRIBED. PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTATION ARE ALSO EXAMINED. DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THE PROGRAM, SELF-EVALUATIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY EACH PROGRAM AREA, RESULTING IN A THREE-YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR EACH. THE EVALUATION TEAMS HAVE PREPARED A FIRST-YEAR REPORT AND SUBMITTED IT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR. (RCB)