New CMIT Research Director Focuses on Partnerships

As the new Research Director at the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT), Erin Orrick wants to serve as a resource for correctional agencies in Texas and across the country.

Effects of Supermax Confinement on Postrelease Recidivism and Employment

A study led by H. Daniel Butler found confinement in supermax prisons have little effect on recidivism, employment and completion of post-release treatment programs. Despite higher costs, confinement in supermax prisons appears to have a limited effect on postrelease recidivism, employment, or completion of community-based treatment programs, according to a published study.

Intern Shadows Parole Officers in the Field

This summer, Kaitlin Ehrhart shadowed parole officers as they visited with clients returning from prison to their communities in Grimes, Leon, Madison, Polk, Trinity, Walker and parts of Houston counties in Texas.

National Jail Academy Graduates 25th Class

The National Jail Leadership Command Academy (NJLCA) is now 1,000 members strong.

Study Examines Disciplinary Segregation across State Prisons

Nearly one-third of offenders who violated institutional rules and regulations across state prisons received a sanction of disciplinary segregation, which prison officials based on legal and extralegal factors, according to a recent study.

Alumnus Elevated to Warden in Missouri Prison

Alumnus Kelly Morriss is in the business of second chances.

Leighton Iles of Tarrant County Adult Probation Named Defensor Pacem

Each spring, the College of Criminal Justice sets aside a day of celebration to honor students, alumni, and friends and to memorialize professionals who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Texas Sheriffs Learn Best Practices in Jail Administration & Management

New sheriffs from across Texas received a primer on best practices for managing their jails at the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT).

Countering Radicalization in Terrorism, Hate Groups, Gangs in Communities, Prisons and Jails

The Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) are teaming up to share information on the radicalization of terrorists, hate groups, and gangs in an effort to build networks to combat the problem in Texas and beyond.

Study Explores Public Support for Death Penalty in Mexico

In sharp contrast to previous studies of public support for the death penalty conducted in the U.S., Catholics in Mexico were found to be more likely to support capital punishment, whereas older Mexicans and those living in states that bordered the U.S. were less likely to support the death penalty, according to researchers at Sam Houston State University.

College Expands International Initiatives in Corrections

The Office of International Programs at the College of Criminal Justices continues to forge new relationships across the globe for research and practice in the criminal justice field.

Officials Design Model Mental Health Training for Detention Officers

The Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) hosted a group representing county jails, mental health professionals, and federal partners to develop a model training initiative for jail detention officers in the State of Texas to address better mental health issues in their facilities.

CJ College #1 for Online Graduate Education

Sam Houston State University offers the best online criminal justice program for graduate education in the nation, according to the 2017 rankings released by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR).

Study Examines Race in Access to Early Release Credits in Federal Prisons

Latinos and Native Americans were more likely to be denied access to “good time” benefits during their incarcerations in federal prisons when compared with White and African American offenders, and Asian inmates fared better than all groups in obtaining access to these benefits, according to a study by researchers at Sam Houston State University.

23/7: Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement

Mon, Feb 6, 2017
9:00am
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Pelican Bay Prison in California was designed as one of the first “supermax” facilities in response to a perceived risk of black radicalism in the 1970s. Extreme conditions sparked statewide hunger strikes in 2011 and 2013 involving up to 30,000 inmates, which led to a rise in the use of solitary confinement.

Prison Visitation Linked to Lower Recidivism, Study Shows

Inmates who received prison visitation were less likely to re-offend after release when compared to offenders who did not receive visits, according to a meta-analysis study by researchers at Sam Houston State University.

Immigration Status May Act as Protective Factor in Sentencing

Offenders with federal immigration detainers received significantly shorter sentences in state courts than those that did not face deportation, except in cases involving life or death sentences, researchers found.

Research Reveals Restorative Justice Reduces Recidivism

Restorative justice programs, such victim-offender mediation and community impact panels, are more effective in reducing recidivism rates among juvenile offenders than traditional court processing, a study by researchers at Sam Houston State University found.

Education is Key to Success in Jails

As the new President of the American Jail Association, Alumnus Wayne Dicky continues to stress the importance of ongoing education for jail professionals.

CMIT Launches Decision Points Training for Probation Officers

The Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) is offering adult and juvenile institutional and probation officers a new approach to help offenders stay out of trouble.

Called Decision Points, the program features intensive training for correctional staff to implement a cognitive-behavioral intervention to break the cycle of trouble. It teaches offenders to examine their thoughts and feelings, to think about who cares what they do, to identify choices, and to pinpoint a motivating thought to do their best to succeed.