The CorrectTech team just returned from the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) summer Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana.  If you have never been to New Orleans, I assure you its passion is unmatched.  Fortunately, there was equal passion in the APPA workshops and exhibit hall.  We left with renewed energy in the importance and purpose of our profession, and empathy for professionals seeking technical assistance with the varied challenges of community corrections.

There is an interesting parallel between walking in the French Quarter and perusing the exhibit hall.  Whether your goal is to find New Orleans' best gumbo or the best software package for your community corrections program, there is no shortage of marketing for your attention.  With so much competition for your business how does a person cut through the sales message to identify what is authentic?

Common Interests

I learned a hard lesson about “community.” I attempted to zone a community corrections facility without building a relationship with the community first. Rookie mistake. The public hearing wasn’t pretty. It is said that when under attack, human nature is to fight, flight or freeze. This community felt attacked and fought. Hard. And won. While I felt pretty battered at the time, it might be the most important lesson I’ve learned as a professional. I realized that until you understand , really understand, what “community” means, you might want to consider a career other than community corrections.