MAY 2025

Upcoming Events in the Field:

06/23 - 06/27: National Sherriff's Association (ASA): Annual Conference

07/20 - 07/21: National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Correctional Mental Health Care Conference

07/29 - 07/31: 7th National PREA Coordinators Conference

08/21 - 08/26: American Correctional Association (ACA): 155th Congress of Correction

08/21 - 08/24: Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) 2025 Summer Conference

08/24 - 8/27: American Probation and Parole Association (APPA): 50th Annual Training Institute

09/29 - 10/03: National Symposium on Juvenile Services, 2025 Conference

11/01 - 11/05: National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC), 2025 Conference

Culture Corner

"Built for the Mission. Powered by People. Sustained by Culture."

Leading in Times of Uncertainty

Uncertainty in corrections is not new—but it is evolving. From staffing shortages and rising wellness concerns to policy changes, public scrutiny, and shifts in government and agency priorities, correctional leaders today are navigating more complex, high-stakes environments than ever before.

In these moments, leadership matters most—not just to keep operations running, but to ensure dignity, safety, and respect remain at the center of the mission.

Five Key Strategies for Leading Through Complexity in Corrections

Recognize the Human Impact: Uncertainty takes a toll on staff and stakeholders. A trauma-informed, people-first approach can help build trust and resilience from the inside out.
Engage Staff Early and Often: In high-stress environments, top-down communication alone isn’t enough. Building in feedback loops and inclusive decision-making fosters buy-in and reduces resistance.
Strengthen Culture, Not Just Compliance: Leaders must model values, reinforce positive norms, and address underlying tensions—even when resources are stretched.
Invest in Mid-Level Leadership: Frontline supervisors often carry the brunt of operational and emotional load during uncertainty. They need targeted support, clear expectations, and space to grow.
Make Stability Your Strategy: In volatile times, consistency becomes a leadership superpower. Reliable routines, transparent updates, and clear decision-making processes bring calm to chaos.

Complexity is not a roadblock—it’s an invitation to lead differently and an opportunity for organizations to innovate.

National Correctional Officer and Employee Appreciation Week: RECAP

Since 1984, National Correctional Officers and Employee Appreciation Week has been officially observed in the United States every May. This is a week dedicated to recognizing the vital role that correctional staff play in our justice system.

TMG shares our gratitude and support for the hardworking men and women who ensure safety and contribute to many important services in our correctional facilities.

Updates on PREA

The Moss Group (TMG) understands that recent legislative and funding shifts have cause some confusion about the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), so here are some items for clarification:

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) remains a federal law.

The PREA Online Audit System has been restored.

TMG remains steadfast in our commitment to promoting sexual safety in confinement settings.We continue to provide the same high-quality support, including PREA implementation assistance, coaching, training, and audit readiness.

For more information or if you are seeking assistance with your PREA need, please contact us:

jsheahan@mossgroup.us

Our resident PREA experts look forward to hearing from you!

TMG’s Mission in Motion

Our team has been busy in the month of May serving our clients and engaging in conferences.

Correctional Leaders Association (CLA): Southeastern Region Conference

San Antonio, Texas with Andie Moss

Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ):

Women's Justice Commission (WJC) Meeting

Chicago, Illinois with Andie Moss

American Jail Association (AJA):

Conference and Jail Expo

San Antonio, Texas with

Andie Moss and Mara Dodson

Stay Up To Date with TMG's Work!

TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND TRAININGS

Professional Boundaries in

Confinement and Community Settings

TMG is proud to partner with the Carey Group to launch a new online training focused on professional boundaries in confinement and community settings.

TMG and The Carey Group recognize that professional boundaries are key to safety and security. This training is designed for staff that work directly with clients and the incarcerated population to develop strategies to build rapport, recognize signs of potential abuse or violations of boundaries, and consider how to help colleagues who may be struggling with boundaries.

The training helps fulfill PREA standard 115.31 (8) how to avoid inappropriate relationships with incarcerated individuals. This training is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for 2.5 hours of Continuing Education Credit.

Click HERE to find more information on how to sign up for the training!

Registration is Open!

TMG's 2025 Virtual PREA Investigations Training

With Cari Gerlicher

and Jeff Shorba

Tuesday, March 18 (adult)

Monday, May 19 (juvenile)

Friday, September 10 (adult)

Friday, November 14 (juvenile)

One-day Virtual Specialized PREA Investigations training covers key topics that support the requirements under the PREA specialized investigations training standard and covers key skills and scenario-based learning.

Topics include:

Investigating both sexual abuse and harassment allegations, trauma-informed interviewing, interrogation techniques, evidence collection, proper use of Miranda and Garrity, report writing, substantiating cases, the role of prosecutors and SANE nurses in the process, and more!

Fees & Fines Webinar Recap

Date: April 22, 2025

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM EST

Moss Justice Partners and the Anat Project joined up for a powerful webinar on the true cost of fines and fees in the criminal legal system.

Featuring guest speaker Dr. Ebony Ruhland, Associate Professor at Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, with facilitators Dr. LaToya Wesley-Colm, Executive Director at MJP, and Dr. Shawn Flowers Principal Researcher at Choice Research Associates, this conversation explored how financial penalties deepen harm for individuals navigating probation and parole.

Find the recording HERE

For more information, contact Lisa Pierotte, lpierotte@mossjustice.org

About Moss Justice Partners (MJP)

Moss Justice Partners (MJP) is a D.C.-based nonprofit with the mission to identify and fill critical service gaps for justice-impacted individuals and their loved ones through partnerships and inventive solutions. MJP is focused on education, thought leadership, research, scholarships, and personal and family safety.

Visit MJP's Website