Members of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and GEO Reentry Services will present a workshop highlighting the state’s Confinement in Response to Violation Centers (CRV Centers) at the American Correctional Association Congress of Correction Conference on August 3. The heavily attended ACA Summer Conference holds presentations and events to educate those working in the correctional field, and attendees have the opportunity to network and learn information that they can put into effect in their work.
The workshop, “Managing Technical Violators with Evidence-Based Strategies in a Correctional Setting,” will focus on the logic, strategy and implementation of short-term in-custody treatment programs called Confinement in Response to Violation Centers. CRV facilities were implemented as a result of both the rapidly growing prison population and the Justice Reinvestment Act of 2011, which changed North Carolina sentencing laws. Rather than send parole violators back to prison with a full sentence, CRV Centers were established as 90-day correctional facilities that use evidence-based practices to help modify the behavior of violators and teach them new skillsets that help them succeed upon reentry into their communities.
North Carolina currently has three CRV facilities operated by GEO Reentry Services, the Burke CRV Facility, the Robeson CRV Center, and the recently opened North Piedmont CRV for women. Violators at these centers transition through three phases of the reentry program—intake and assessment, programming and reentry—in which they participate in a variety of classes designed to address criminal thinking and behavior. Programming includes substance abuse intervention, cognitive behavioral treatment and academic and vocational opportunities.
Since the CRV Centers opened in 2014, they have seen a reduction in disciplinary infractions and criminal thinking. Outcomes Reports detailing results from both the Burke and Robeson CRV Centers programs can be found here. Presenters will share more information about their experiences and findings at the ACA Conference in August.
Teresa Messer Jardon, operations manager at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, and Ashley Oxendine, program manager at the Robeson CRV, will lead the presentation on the CRV Centers. George Pettigrew, justice reinvestment administrator at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, will moderate the discussion.
The American Correctional Association is the largest association of correctional agencies and supporting organizations in the United States. It exists to strengthen correctional effectiveness and support practitioners working in the correctional field. Through strong leadership, the ACA aims to improve the programs and practices of the justice system. The ACA will hold its 149th Congress of Correction in Boston, Massachusetts from August 1-6. The conference will include informational sessions, breakout meetings and networking opportunities to allow those working in corrections to learn and share their experiences and expertise.
Violators at CRV centers transition through three phases of the reentry program—intake and assessment, programming and reentry—in which they participate in a variety of classes designed to address criminal thinking and behavior. (Pictured: Participants at Robeson CRV) 
North Piedmont CRV is the newest CRV Center in North Carolina, offering programming exclusively to accommodate the growing population of justice-involved women. (Pictured: Participants at North Piedmont CRV) 
Since the CRV Centers opened in 2014, they have seen a reduction in disciplinary infractions and criminal thinking. (Pictured: Participants at North Piedmont CRV, which exclusively serves female violators) 
Rather than send parole violators back to prison with a full sentence, CRV Centers were established as 90-day correctional facilities that use evidence-based practices to teach violators necessary skills to succeed upon reentry into their communities. (Pictured: Participants at Robeson CRV) 
Evidence-based programming at the CRVs include substance abuse intervention, cognitive behavioral treatment and academic and vocational opportunities. (Pictured: Participants at Burke CRV) 
CRV facilities were implemented as a result of both the rapidly growing prison population and the Justice Reinvestment Act of 2011, which changed North Carolina sentencing laws. (Pictured: Participants at North Piedmont CRV)