2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

and held to be constitutional (2005), religious accommodation requests have increased exponentially — and from a wide variety of adherents. This workshop will provide critical, up-to-date information about to interpret that law, and about the historical development of religious accommodation in response to that law. Then, the session will consist of interactive dialogue — participants with the expert panelists — about specific religious accommodation issues that correctional professionals are encountering from diverse religious adherents, regarding such matters as grooming, diet, literature, ritual artifacts, communal services and more. Moderator: AJ Sabree , Reentry Strategic Planning & Implementation Manager, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Decatur, Georgia Speakers: David Liebel , Director, Religious and Volunteer Services, Indiana Department of Correction, Indianapolis, Indiana; Barbara McGraw , Professor & Center Director, Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga, California Strengthening Reentry Through Economic ROI, Employer Engagement, and Data-Driven Planning Room 310 Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: This session highlights the ongoing researcher-practitioner partnership between the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections and Mississippi State University NSPARC. Participants will learn strategies for utilizing labor market data to align prison education and occupational training with job demands, increasing ROI and supporting local economic growth. We present an econometric framework quantifying the socioeconomic value of Louisiana reentry career technical education programs from CY 2010–2024. Furthermore, participants will explore methods for identifying historical employer partners and leveraging qualitative insights to ensure returning citizens possess the soft skills and competencies required for THURSDAY, JULY 30 2:30–3:30 P.M.

long-term career success. Moderator: Timothy Reling , Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, Mississippi State University NSPARC, Starkville, Mississippi Speakers: Jessica Byrd , Director of Workforce Strategy, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Victoria Rapp , Ph.D., Research Scientist, Mississippi State University NSPARC, Starkville, Mississippi; Timothy Reling , Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, Mississippi State University NSPARC, Starkville, Mississippi Vicarious Trauma and Corrections Fatigue: Strategies for Supporting Staff, Building Resiliency and Effective Self-Care Room 317 Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts of vicarious trauma and corrections fatigue, and how they can manifest in correctional staff. An overview of the nature and causes of corrections fatigue and vicarious trauma, and of the psychological, physical, and psychosocial impacts of working in a high-stress, demanding correctional setting will be provided. The workshop will explore the role of empathy, including common misconceptions and assumptions regarding what empathy means in a correctional setting, as well as the cognitive, emotional and compassionate forms of empathy. The concept of empathy fatigue will be explored in detail. Effective methods for mitigating the risks of corrections fatigue and vicarious trauma will be explored, including effective self-care practices, how to provide organizational support to staff, training, and staff wellness initiatives and building staff resilience. An in-class exercise will be conducted to demonstrate the concept of resiliency and burnout. A discussion on how correctional agencies can use the guiding principles of a trauma-informed approach to help support staff wellness. Moderator: Ryan Crowley , Chief of Staff, Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Cranston, Rhode Island Speakers: Caitlin Bouchard , Clinical

WORKSHOPS

Thursday, July 30 ▼ 1–4:30 p.m.

ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh — 111