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Abstract: 

This discussion, first presented at the October 2006 International Corrections and Prison Association meetings in Vancouver, BC, looks at the issues facing residential settings in managing a more diverse offender population. The authors present a very practical plan for countering the punitive turn in corrections and seek, through programs, to rebuild individuals and their families. Based on best practices and embedded in the theory informing “what works” programming, they argue that a well-articulated treatment program becomes the glue that holds programs together. This approach is used both for the development of staff training events and for client programs. In this article, the authors cover the critical principles for working with diverse populations, the keys to successful programs, and the specific programs at Alvis House that adhere to the principles they have identified. Readers looking for practical advice and suggestions on managing the increasing numbers of special needs offenders will find much of use in this article. As the authors conclude: The growth of special needs populations continues to expand in corrections. More time and attention need to be made in developing specialty assessments and curriculums that will aid in successful treatment.

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Affiliations:  1: Alvis House, Inc.; 2: Alvis House, Inc..