Our Favorite Publications and Training Tools

Guidelines for Developing a Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee - This 2002 publication by the National Institute of Corrections can be considered the "bible" or "best practice" for establishing effective local criminal justice policy planning.

A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems: An Initiative of the National Institute of Corrections, A Work in Progress, Third Edition - This 2010 publication describes a rationale and framework to assist local justice system decision-makers in implementing more evidence-based policies and practices for the local justice system.

Jail Capacity Planning Guide: A Systems Approach - This 2009 publication by the National Institute of Corrections is an insightful and practical resource for jurisdictions attempting to forecast the number of jail beds needed in the future.

Jail Crowding: Understanding Jail Population Dynamics - This 2002 publication by the National Institute of Corrections serves as a must-read guidebook for jail commanders and jail population analysts.

A Second Look at Alleviating Jail Crowding: A System's Perspective - This 2000 monograph from the Bureau of Justice Assistance describes how justice system officials
have attempted to minimize jail crowding in recent years.

Getting It Right: Collaborative Problem Solving for Criminal Justice - This 2006 publication by the National Institute of Corrections provides specific tools to assist local jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and improve interagency collaboration and planning.

Flowchart Illustrating the Sequence of Events in the Criminal Justice System - This 1998 publication by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics provides a somewhat detailed but uncomplicated depiction and description of the criminal justice system in the United States.

The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society: A Report by the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice - This 1967 publication by the U.S. Government helped create criminal justice coordination and planning functions at local, regional, and state levels.  

Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Community Corrections: The Principles of Effective Intervention - This 2004 publication by the National Institute of Corrections and the Crime and Justice Institute describes the eight principles, and list supporting research for, evidence-based practice in community corrections.

Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project - This 2002 publication by the Council of State Governments contains specific recommendations that local, state and federal policymakers and other professionals can use to improve the criminal justice system's response to persons with mental illness.

Sequential Intercepts for Change: Criminal Justice - Mental Health Partnerships - This resource from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services' National Gains Center integrates the Consensus Project with an easy-to-use flow chart for mapping opportunities for better serving persons who are in the criminal justice system and who have mental illness.

Beyond the Myths: The Jail in Your Community - This 2003 video from the National Institute of Corrections provides the public with general information about jails and the need for community interest in local jail issues.

Huzdik, J. K., & Cordner, G. W. (1983). Planning in Criminal Justice Organizations and Systems. - New York: Macmillan. This text is one of the few worthwhile readings that describes in detail the history and role of criminal justice planning.

Huzdik, J. K. (1994). Comprehensive criminal justice planning: Successes, failures and lessons from the American experience.  In Biles, D. & McKillop, S. (Eds.), Criminal Justice Planning and Coordination: Proceedings of a Conference Held 19-21 April 1993, Canberra.  Australian Institute of Criminology: Canberra, Australia.  This article describes the history and origins of criminal justice planning in the United States, and lists specific tasks that can help a jurisdiction's planning efforts to be comprehensive.

Bryson, J.M. (2004). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations, 3rd Edition: A Guide to Strengthening and Sustaining Organizational Achievement. - San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.  This text provides very valuable information on how to begin and sustain an effective strategic planning process.

Bryson, J.M., & Alston, F.K. (2005). Creating and Implementing Your Strategic Plan: A Workbook for Public and Nonprofit Organizations. - San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.  This workbook provides many useful worksheets to accompany Bryson's similarly titled text.

The Fog of War - Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara.
(2004). Sony Pictures Classics. http://www.sonyclassics.com/fogofwar
The eleven lessons that McNamara learned about government and war during the Vietnam era also apply to modern day governments and criminal justice systems.

Last Modified: Feb 28, 2011 10:31 AM