Last year there were approximately 1,500 crimes committed in New British Columbia. The state’s top three criminal offenses are listed below.
1. Drug and alcohol-related offenses
2. Breaking and entering
3. Property crimes
The governor has just appointed you as the first Commissioner of Corrections for New British Columbia. You have been tasked with preparing a report for the
governor to help him defend the need for additional funds in the state’s correctional budget. Your report will explain the overall importance of communitybased corrections programs, highlight evidence-based practices that exist in other states, and recommend community-based corrections programs that you
believe will be effective in New British Columbia.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: In this section, you will explain the importance of community-based corrections programs and provide an overview of the programs
available to offenders throughout the United States.
A. Briefly discuss common issues facing correctional facilities and why these issues create the need for community-based corrections.
B. Describe the three main categories of community-based corrections programs that are offered to offenders throughout the United States,
providing specific examples.
C. Discuss how one determines if a community-based corrections program is effective. What types of metrics or other information do you look at
to determine program success?
II. Needs Analysis: In this section, you will begin to reveal what New British Columbia needs in regards to effective community-based corrections programs.
A. Analyze how effective community-based corrections programs in New British Columbia could help to alleviate the current issues facing the
state’s correctional institutions.
B. Explain what the recidivism rate in New British Columbia suggests about the need for effective community-based corrections programs.
C. Provide examples of community-based corrections programs in other states that have been successful in reducing recidivism.
III. Reentry: In this section, you will examine some of the evidence-based practices that contribute to the successful reentry of offenders into society.
A. How does housing assistance play a role in assisting reformed offenders with successful reentry? Provide examples from other states to support
your reasoning.
B. How does employment assistance play a role in assisting reformed offenders with successful reentry? Provide examples from other states to
support your reasoning.
C. How do substance-abuse programs play a role in assisting reformed offenders with successful reentry? Provide examples from other states to
support your reasoning.
D. Based on what you know about the types of criminal offenses occurring in New British Columbia, explain which evidence-based practices would
be beneficial to the reentry of state’s offenders.
IV. Recommendations: In this section, you will make your recommendations for how to improve New British Columbia’s community-based corrections
programs. You will also explain the short term challenges and long term benefits of making the changes you suggest.
A. Provide recommendations on what New British Columbia can do to make its existing community-based corrections programs more effective.
Support your response with examples from other states.
B. Provide recommendations on what new community-based corrections programs should be instituted in New British Columbia. Support your
response with examples from other states.
C. Explain the potential short-term challenges in implementing the recommendations you suggest.
D. Justify how these new and improved programs will alleviate the issues facing corrections facilities in New British Columbia in the long term.
Milestones
Milestone One: Introduction
In Module Two, you will submit an introduction to your final project, explaining the importance of community-based corrections programs and their
effectiveness in reducing recidivism. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Needs Analysis
In Module Four, you will submit a needs analysis analyzing community-based corrections from around the country, and comparing these programs to the ones
that are offered in New British Columbia.
