The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) operates the Appalachian Community Corrections Alternative Program (ACCAP). ACCAP is defined as an evidence-based alternative to prison for nonviolent offenders who have been convicted of a felony. ACCAP provides a structured, healing environment where participants can receive help designed to address criminal thinking, substance abuse disorders, educational and vocational needs. Participants in ACCAP are given the opportunity to

The number one goal for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is longterm public safety. As in any other prison system, the VADOC is always looking to enhance its safety and security procedures to fulfill this goal. Looking at the visitation policies and procedures statewide, it was found that the common theme was contraband breaching the secured perimeter. Concerns statewide rose when inmate overdoses increased, prison infractions for contraband grew and the concern

In March 2020, the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia declared a state of emergency due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. Newly implemented contact and social distancing restrictions caused the District 20 random drug screening program, known as Color Code, to be suspended. Drug screenings, which are a necessary and impactful tool used most frequently during the term of supervision, were being administered only when they were Court ordered or when there was a public safety i

n early 2021, after having dealt with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic for over 10 months, the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) finally began receiving vaccines. Up until the availability of the vaccines, VADOC had experienced the loss of over 50 inmates due to the virus. In addition, the Department lost one of its most prominent leaders of more than 40 years, Warden Earl Barksdale. As a priority group, Virginia’s inmates had access to the vaccine early. In Janu

Alexandria Probation and Parole consists of 15 employees: eight Probation Officers, two Senior Probation Officers, one Chief, one Deputy Chief and three administrative staff. Through community partnerships and collaborative relationships, the District strives to build a healing environment for probationers and parolees, their families, and for the community at large. This office is fortunate to have a large team of seasoned officers with very little turnover. By completing th

How do I live a better life and how do I do a better job? Threshold Dialogue brought together people involved in the criminal justice system in the UK – high-repeat offenders, police officers, prison staff, local government officers and politicians, housing and employment staff and many others – to consider these questions. The common goal of all these participants was to improve resettlement of offenders and thereby reduce recidivism. This was achieved in Threshold Dialogue

At the request of the Ministry of Justice, Dialogue was used to consult with prisoners about Transforming Rehabilitation. Dialogic Research as a methodology (rather than traditional focus groups, surveys or one-on-one interviews), is designed to find the authentic voice of those who are impacted by organisational changes but are otherwise excluded from influencing the design process. Read in full The Offender Journey report to the MOJ  by Jane Ball and Peter Garrett:

I am writing this article as a Trustee of Prison Dialogue, a UK-based not-for-profit charity which seeks to promote the use of Dialogue in the Criminal Justice System, and especially in prisons. My route to arriving in this position was somewhat roundabout, as I am neither a Criminal Justice professional nor a Dialogue Practitioner. I encountered the concept of Dialogue in the course of my career in the oil business with British Petroleum as part of some work we were doing to

This article describes how a team of juvenile probation officers in Yamhill, Oregon changed its culture and co-created a practice model. A practice model is a shared set of integrated evidence-based practices that an agency believes will result in better public safety outcomes. The practice-based evidence of staff was combined with a new integration of evidence-based practices called COVE. COVE stands for Coaching Options that are Versatile and Effective. The paper describes

The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is responsible for the care, security and well-being of over 30,000 inmates, 60,000 supervisees and 13,000 staff. Our mission is to help people do better. To accomplish this, each person within the VADOC is accountable to ensure that the organization works efficiently, effectively and continuously with minimal disruptions. Agency culture and environment are critical to achieving the agency’s mission. VADOC has adopted a Healing E

Facilitated by Peter Garrett, May 1994 to August 1996

The reports were shared with participants, edited from their feedback and then circulated around the prison to staff and prisoners. Download the HMP Long Lartin Reports:

These were the first ever Prison Dialogues and the result of a collaboration between Dave Parsons and Peter Garrett.

Facilitated by Peter Garrett, September 1994 to August 1996