Bringing about change: Evidence-based practices

Two things will make or break procedural change in any organization: Whether the change is truly for the better, and the attitude of the organization’s leaders.
Probation supervision is changing, and the officers are being trained in the changes in a series of presentations across the state. The training details how certain procedures will be different in the future.

The changes are not experiments. They are not “Let’s do this a different way and see if it works.” The changes come from practices that have already been tried, and more importantly have been proven to work. They are known in many professions, including corrections, as Evidence-Based Practices (EBP).

The evidence is clear, so to speak, that the EBP way of doing probation is better than what had been in place in North Carolina. The training sessions make that clear.

But change being what it is, is still understandably difficult to accept for many people. Change requires extra effort: Learning and using something new can shake people’s confidence until they get the hang of it. It seems to be easier to stay in the old mode.

Getting past that requires assurances from leaders: Repeated demonstrations of their belief that the changes will truly be for the better; openness to questions and opinions; and being on the frontline instead of in the front office while the changes are introduced and implemented.

Case-in-point: Community Corrections Director Tim Moose was present and interactive during the Aug. 11 training session in Williamston. Frequently, he rose to help answer questions, demonstrating that the department’s senior management is committed to being leaders, not just supervisors and policy makers.

In fact, an open and honest discussion arose regarding a policy on drug-testing new probationers. Many of the officers made persuasive arguments about how the new policy could be improved. Director Moose was actively involved, and he and the presenters listened carefully.

A bit later in the session, one of the presenters announced that their director had to decided to change the questioned drug-testing policy as requested by the officers in that training session.

These are good signs that EBP will be good, for all of us.

Barber school graduates first class

Two years after its opening, the Central Carolina Community College barber school at Harnett Correctional Institution is ready to graduate its first class.

Last week, thirteen inmate barbers passed their exam administered by the NC Board of Barber Examiners. Each has completed more than 1,500 hours of classroom work and practical instruction and a full year working as an apprentice under the guidance of a licensed barber at Harnett CI.

The inmate barbers have received their Provisional Registered Barber License. After a graduation event on Sept. 10, they will be assigned to work until their release at a licensed prison barber shop.   After release, they will be ready to receive their full barber license from the board and work as a professional barber.

Congratulations to the barber graduates!

One Tree Hill films at New Hanover Correctional Center

The production crew from "One Tree Hill," the Wilmington-based TV drama that airs on the CW network, filmed scenes at New Hanover Correctional Center on Friday.

Look for these scenes in episode four of the upcoming season of "One Tree Hill".