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2008 Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship Application - Now Available

February 26, 2008

ASCA’s 2008 Susan M. Hunter Correctional Scholarship application is now available. Click here to go to the online application.  A scholarship review committee (comprised of members of ASCA Past Presidents Committee) will review applications from the children of corrections employees.  Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 for undergraduate studies and $1,500 for graduate studies. Over the past four years, ASCA has awarded a total of twenty-seven (27) scholarships. The total number of scholarships awarded in 2008 will depend upon contributions received.

Scholarship Eligibility

  • Student must be the son or daughter of a corrections employee (current full-time, retired, or deceased) within an ASCA-member department of corrections (includes Federal Bureau of Prisons). Corrections employees, siblings, spouses, and grandchildren are not eligible. Step children are eligible.
  • Student must be enrolled full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university; or an accredited graduate program. The scholarships are: $1,000 for undergraduate students or $1,500 for graduate students.
  • Incoming first-time freshmen must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0; Enrolled full-time students must have a minimum college GPA of 3.0.; Graduate students’ field of study must be Corrections/Criminal Justice.

Scholarship applications (and all required documentation) are due to the ASCA office on April 11, 2008 (postmarked no later than April 11, 2008). The Scholarship Review Committee will make its decisions in July 2008. All applicants will be notified via email. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the ASCA Summer Business Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

New NIC Prisons Chief Announced

February 6, 2008

BeLinda Watson has been named prison's division chief at the National Institute of Corrections. Belinda has 30 years of correctional experience. Belinda began her career as a correctional officer and has worked in many states and capacities including warden. In March of 2001, she joined the Federal Bureau of Prisons, National Institute of Corrections as a program specialist. Belinda has a BA in Behavioral Sciences-Psychology and a Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling.

ASCA Winter Meetings

January 4, 2008

The ASCA Winter Meetings in Grapevine, Texas will take place Thursday, January 10, 2008 through Sunday, January 13, 2008 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Lake Grapevine in Texas (Grapevine is a suburb of Dallas). Note that all ASCA meetings and functions will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort (ACA host hotel). To make your hotel arrangements for the meeting, please use the ACA housing service. For more information, go to the ACA website or call ACA at 800-222-5646. Note that ASCA does not cover any travel costs associated with these meetings.

December 18, 2007

SECOND CHANCE ACT MOVES CLOSER TO PASSAGE

Monday evening the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a concurrent resolution that makes minor technical changes to the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R.1593), which passed the House on Nov. 13th with a 347-62 vote. The resolution was made to address Senate concerns and includes new language to change the match for state and local government reentry grants and clarify the eligibility requirements for the elderly offender pilot program. This vote brings the legislation one step closer to being signed into law in 2008. Senate sponsors hope to vote on the bill later this week.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 was introduced earlier this year by Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA). The legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress, authorizes a number of reentry grant programs including a grant program for state and local governments to develop reentry initiatives and a reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services.

December 6, 2007

President Beck Presents at the PREA Commission Hearing

President Theodis Beck (NC) presents testimony at the PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Commission Hearing, December 5-6, 2007, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Download his testimony here (PDF).

November 13, 2007

NIC -- Chief, Prisons Division Position Posted

This serves as notification that the position of Correctional Programs Officer (Chief, Prisons Division), GS-006-14/15, Prisons Division, National Institute of Corrections, Washington, D.C. has been posted to USAJOBS. The open period for the vacancy announcement, CO-2008-0072, is November 7, 2007, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, December 7, 2007.  (To find the announcement, go to http://www.usajobs.gov/ and enter CO-2008-0072 into the search field.)

November 8, 2007

News Alert • The House Judiciary Committee Oks the Reauthorization of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act

On November 7, 2007, just a week after the introduction of the bill, members of the full House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 3992, the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act. The bill will now be sent to the House floor for consideration, which sponsors say could take place later this month. The Senate sponsors intend to move the companion bill, S. 2304, before Congress breaks for recess.

During the mark-up of the bill, lead sponsors Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Randy Forbes (R-VA) spoke about the need for continued collaboration between criminal justice and mental health agencies. The bill will make a significant commitment to addressing the needs of both the criminal justice system and the mentally ill offender population. It offers grants to communities to develop diversion programs, mental health treatments in jails and prisons, and transition and after-care services to facilitate reentry into the community.

"I am pleased to be the lead cosponsor of a bi-cameral, bi-partisan legislation," Representative Scott said. "The MIOTCRA will not only provide for appropriate responses to mentally ill offenders, but save localities money in avoided jail and prison costs."

With bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, the legislation will raise the authorization level of MIOTCRA from $50 million per year to $75 million per year and will extend the authorization through 2013. The bill will also reauthorize the Mental Health Courts grant program, (Public Law 106-515) and require a study to be completed on the prevalence of mental illness in prisons and jails.

October 21, 2007

2007 Michael Francke Award

The Michael Francke Reception was held on Saturday evening, October 20, 2007. The 2007 Michael Francke Award was presented to Theodis Beck, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Correction.

Morris Thigpen, Chair of the Francke Award Committee and Director of the National Institute of Corrections presents the 2007 Michael Francke Award to Theodis Beck, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Correction. Jean and Theodis Beck, October 20, 2007.