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Forward Thinking

Links to Other 'Forward Thinking' Scenarios

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and National Institute of Corrections (NIC) are coordinating a project to develop scenarios, based on trends analysis, for correctional agencies to use in strategic planning and organizational development. This process, referred to as "Forward Thinking," is increasingly used by private firms and governmental agencies to prepare to effectively function in a quickly changing, uncertain environment. The Bureau of Prisons began "Forward Thinking" activities in 2001 and continues to update trends and scenarios used for their agency-wide planning. NIC will be developing scenario-based training and technical assistance for state and local correctional agencies.

A first step to building scenarios is identifying and analyzing trends. You can get involved!

Start by reviewing NIC's Environmental Scan Update-2010 and the Bureau of Prisons' Trend Statements for background. You can also review examples of other agencies' scenarios. Then join the Forward Thinking Forum in the Corrections Community (see sidebar). The forum provides opportunities to interact with other corrections professionals to identify and discuss emerging trends, and project their potential impacts on the field of corrections. The forum will also provide blogs and announcements of NIC training and other information related to Forward Thinking.

The BOP/NIC Forward Thinking Panel will use input from the forum and other research to produce a CORRECTIONS TRENDS list (see below). Those trends can be used for agency planning.

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Corrections Trends

Recommended Reading

Date Title Type
2010
Document preview
Environmental Scan 2010
National Institute of Corrections Information Center (Aurora, CO).
"Beginning in the late 1990’s, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Information Center began scanning social, economic and corrections issues to inform the development of programs and services offered by NIC. This report, now in its 5th edition, has continued to evolve into a popular tool that is also used by corrections practitioners to inform their work in jails, prisons and community corrections. Since there are many issues beyond what is addressed in this environmental scan that poten... Read More
PDF
20 pages
2006
Document preview
Environmental Scan Update - 2005
National Institute of Corrections Information Center (Longmont, CO); LIS, Inc. (Longmont, CO).
Changes and forces that may affect the programming of the National Institute of Corrections are analyzed and commented on. This update contains the following sections: international developments; social and demographic trends; public opinion and public policy; the economy and government spending; the workforce; technology; crime and justice trends; and corrections populations and trends.... Read More
PDF
25 p.
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