The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) is the only federal agency with a legislative mandate (Public Law 93-415) to provide specialized services to corrections from a national perspective.
NIC provides direct service as the primary means of carrying out its mission and responds directly to
needs identified by practitioners working in state and local adult corrections, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, other federal agencies, and the United States Congress.
As a center of learning, innovation and leadership that shapes and advances effective correctional practice and public policy, NIC is a vital partner in planning, developing, delivering, and supporting training and services focused on capacity building for the field of corrections.
NIC believes it takes skilled leadership and knowledge of the greater context of the role that corrections plays in the criminal justice system to improve correctional practices and outcomes 1. Current research into practice shows that public and private sector futuring (using research and exploration to plan for the future) and future casting (developing scenarios)2 is challenging and requires dedicated and deliberate effort to think and behave in strategic, future-focused ways3, 4. As a result, NIC is seeking to plan, develop and convene a Corrections Thought Leaders Network to expose corrections leaders to new ways of thinking about the future of corrections for today and beyond.