Corrections_Today_January_February_2019

From the Executive Director

Corrections Today was born! That’s right, our award-winning, flagship publication came into being 40 years ago this year and what a 40-year ride it has been! But did you know that long before CT was born, there were other iterations of the association’s premier publication? In 1938, when the American Prison Association authorized the formation of the National Jail As- sociation, the leadership believed a regularly produced publication was necessary. So, in 1939, starting with the January/February issue, the Jail Association Journal was born. Then, for the next 18 years, the Minneapo- lis-based Bruce Publishing Company published the Journal . In 1941, in order to reflect a growing and “broader member- ship” of the association, there was a name change — the Jail Association Journal became the Prison World . It was then that the newly-named pub- lication allocated space for material concerning jails and “related cor- rectional components of the criminal justice system.” In 1954, the association respond- ed affirmatively to its ever-expanding

influence and representation of the field, thus our organization’s name became the American Correctional Association. With ACA’s member- ship increasing and including other facets of corrections, the board voted to change the name of the official publication to the American Journal of Correction . In 1978, at ACA’s annual meeting in Portland, Oregon, our organiza- tion took the opportunity to further broaden the scope of the Journal and allow for a future full of potential. Upon recommendation of the Pub- lications Board and the Executive Committee, the name of the American Journal of Correction was changed to Corrections Today . That was 40 years ago, and CT has grown to become an award- winning magazine that you know today. If the American Correctional Association is the voice of corrections, then Corrections Today

professionals and those involved in corrections-related work around the world, Corrections Today is much more than a typical association publication. So, all year long, we will cel- ebrate CT’ s 40 th birthday in a variety of ways. Make sure you pay special attention to the upcoming issues. The articles, departments, guest editori- als, photos, layout and design will, in some form or fashion, highlight this major milestone. Now, if we can just get the cost of a gallon of gas back down to that 1979 price of 86 cents per gallon ... Happy New Year, everyone!

James A. Gondles Jr., CAE ACA Executive Director

is its mouthpiece, its loudspeaker and its bullhorn. To inform, to educate and to enlighten corrections

March/April 2018

May/June 2013

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