Each year, CJI plans, facilitates, and hosts the Institutional Corrections Research Network (ICRN) / National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) Annual Meeting, sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
The meeting brings together corrections researchers from state agencies and federal partners to share information about data analysis tools and internal research. Participants generally include data suppliers to NCRP, members of ICRN, and staff from Abt Associates, NIC, BJS, and CJI.
The goals of this annual meeting are to:
- Provide recommendations for a national research agenda and to assist the corrections field in further developing infrastructure to have high-quality data and share it through national partnerships; and
- Further the work of the corrections field in its understanding and application of research by bringing together agency-based researchers to discuss issues and share insights on research conducted within agencies that operate correctional institutions.
2021 ICRN Conference
The eighth annual meeting took place virtually on May 25, 2021, featuring presentations from member jurisdictions regarding various topics related to data and research. Presentations included:
- Welcome: Michael Kane, CJI; Danielle Kaeble, Bureau of Justice Statistics; Ann Carson, Bureau of Justice Statistics; Shaina Vanek, National Institute of Corrections
- National Corrections Reporting Program Data: Melissa Nadel and Walter Campbell, Abt Associates
- Updated Assaults Model: Eric Ballenger, Indiana Department of Corrections
- Unpacking Recidivism: Tama Celi, Virginia Department of Corrections
- Predicted Probability of Recidivism Model: Alejandra Livingston, Nevada Department of Corrections
View the full 2021 agenda here.
2020 ICRN Conference
The seventh annual meeting took place virtually on June 12, 2020, featuring presentations from member jurisdictions regarding their use of data and research in corrections department responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group also heard from BJS on recent and upcoming data collection efforts. Additional virtual meetings may take place.
Presentations:
- Proposed BJS Data Collection on COVID‐19 in State and Federal Prisons
- Colorado Department of Corrections (presented by Morgan Jackson)
- Hawaii Department of Public Safety (presented by George King)
- Idaho Department of Correction – Idaho’s Research Plan (presented by Janeena White)
- Indiana Department of Correction – COVID-19 Data Initiatives (presented by Sarah Schelle)
- Pennsylvania – Huntingdon Confirmed and Suspected Positive COVID‐19 Cases (presented by Bret Bucklen)
- Virginia Department of Corrections – Research During COVID-19 and Expanded Survey Questions (presented by Tama Celi)
2019 ICRN Conference Summary
The seventh annual data providers meeting took place at the Robert A. Young (RAY) Federal Building St. Louis, Missouri on September 19 and 20, 2019.
The meeting began with a presentation from Anne Precythe, director at the Missouri Department of Corrections, that highlighted the importance of using risk data to drive decision-making. Director Precythe’s presentation was followed by presentations on research studies using NCRP and CES data by Abt Associates, and the current and future plans at BJS by Danielle Kaeble (BJS). The introductory presentations were followed by plenary sessions on exploring recidivism and research in corrections. These sessions were followed by breakout sessions and small group discussions about topics including technical violations, classification assessments, restrictive housing, and NCRP data collection and results. Throughout the day, participants had the opportunity to informally network, discuss the dynamic relationship between criminal justice policy and data, and participate in discussions on research and performance management efforts across states.
The second day began with another round of breakout sessions on topics including BJS publications, parole supervision, the NCRP analysis tool, the National Institute of Justice Correction’s Portfolio and new Corrections Strategic Research Plan, hate crimes, and sex offenses, and educational strategies in corrections. Participants later had an opportunity to listen in on upcoming BJS initiatives. The meeting ended with a discussion of key points, lessons learned, and action steps for moving forward.
Read the full 2019 ICRN Meeting Summary
Presentations:
- Past, Present, and Future of NCRP Research (Ryan Kling, Abt Associates)
- The Impact of Recent and Cumulative Conditions of Confinement on Recidivism (Brian R. Kowalski, Ph. D., Bureau of Research and Evaluation, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction)
- Using Prison Days and Total Costs as an Alternative to Return to Prison Measures (Mark Harris, Ph. D., Research Manager, Wyoming Department of Corrections; Ethan Harris, MS, Statistics Instructor, Casper College)
- Explaining Sex Offender Recidivism: Accounting for differences in correctional supervision (Zach Baumgart, Carisa Bergner, and Megan Jones, Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
- Idaho Prison Compstat (Janeena White, Idaho Department of Correction)
- Pracademic Research: Engaging Corrections Practitioners in Research Through Innovation and Experimentation (Kristofer Bret Bucklen, Ph. D., Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections)
- The Technicalities of Technical Violations (Clarissa Dias, Ph. D., Senior Research Analyst; Maria Stephenson, Research Development Manager; Georgia Department of Community Supervision)
- The Effect of Technical Violation Revocations on Serious Criminal Recidivism (Gerry Gaes, William Rhodes, Abt Associates)
- The Development and Validation of the Minnesota Severe and Frequent Estimate for Discipline (MnSafeD) (Grant Duwe, Director of Research and Evaluation, Minnesota Department of Corrections)
- NCRP for Newcomers (Tom Rich, Mike Shively, Abt Associates)
- The Path to Eliminating Restrictive Housing in Delaware (Philisa Weidlein-Crist, Lead Data Analyst; Miranda Mal, RNR Planner; Delaware Department of Correction)
- Location, Location, Location: What the NCRP tells us about where prisoners serve their sentence, where they’re from, and where they reoffend (Melissa Nadel, Ph. D.; Walter Campbell, Ph. D.; Abt Associates)
- Research Capacity within Department of Corrections and Local/Regional Jails (Dr. Hefang Lin, Research Statistician, Orange County Corrections; Tama S. Celi, Ph. D., Chief of Research, Policy, and Planning, Virginia Department of Corrections)
- Research Update from BJS: Source and Use of Firearms Involved in Crimes and Time Served in State Prison, 2016 (Danielle Kaeble, BJS Statistician)
- Massachusetts Parole Board: PRO Supervision (Gina Papagiorgakis, Director of Research and Planning, Massachusetts State Parole)
- The New On-Line NCRP Data Analysis Tool (Tom Rich, Abt Associates)
- Corrections Research at NIJ: Providing Guidance in a Time of Change (Eric Martin, Social Science Analyst; David Mulhausen, Ph. D., Director of the National Institute of Justice; Chris Tillery, Office of Director, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Technology)
- Hate Crimes and Female Sex Offenders: Exploring the NCRP’s Unique Capabilities for Research on Rare and Specialized Crime Types (Christopher Cutler, Melissa Nadel, Michael Shively, Ryan Kling; Abt Associates)
- Correctional Education Study Findings: FY2013 Releases (Tama Celi, Ph. D., Yan Jin, MS; Virginia Department of Corrections)