What Is Correctional Case Management and How to Become a Correctional Case Manager

In America, there are approximately 1.9 million people incarcerated within many criminal legal systems. The recidivism rate in California alone is 41.9%, meaning that nearly half of the people imprisoned get arrested again.

Correctional case management better prepares incarcerated people for transition back into society. Case managers work with them to arrange services and provide assistance to help them live an offense-free life. They enable a successful transition for prisoners to probation colleagues or to enter the community.

In this article, we’ll discuss correction case management, what a correctional case manager does, and the steps to become one.

What Is Correctional Case Management?

Correction case management is the process of preparing an incarcerated person for reentry back into the community. Life can change drastically depending on how long a person may have spent incarcerated. Community corrections case managers work with relevant parties, including parole officers, drug treatment counselors, reentry programs, and jail employees, to develop a plan for rehabilitation and reintegration.

A typical treatment plan in correctional case management covers areas such as:

Finding employment
Obtaining housing
Signing up for healthcare
Supportive services for themselves and their families
Therapy and counseling

Correctional case management also includes working with teenagers who may have been incarcerated in the juvenile or adult systems. On average, 17% of violent crimes and 26% of property crimes are committed by someone under the age of 18.

In these case plans, corrections social workers must consider the fact that their brains are still developing. This can lead to poor thought processes without intervention from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or equivalent social learning methods.

Case Management Models Used in Correction Case Management

The two case management models most commonly used in correctional case management are strength-based and assertive case management.

In strength-based case management, case managers work with the client’s natural skills and abilities. During intake, the clients should identify what these are for this method to be most successful. The case manager should encourage these positive thoughts and match the person with the services that follow their strengths.

If the person doesn’t know or think they have any positive traits, then the case manager should help them discover them. At the same time, the case manager should be discouraging anti-social attitudes or behaviors that could prevent their success in the future.

Assertive case management takes a more direct approach. It actively delivers services straight to the client. For example, consider a weekly therapy session vs. time spent in a reentry program. Assertive case management often provides services where the client resides or within their close community.

The Importance of Correctional Social Work

Correctional case managers give people who are incarcerated a better chance to succeed once they re-enter society. They are desperately needed in prisons, with the full-time staff decreasing by 10% from 2019-2022. Without accurate staff, incarcerated individuals will not get the attention they need to achieve better lives once they leave.

Who Is the Correction Case Manager?

In correctional case management, the case manager uses the data about a person’s needs for rehabilitation and reintegration to create a prioritized, sequential strategy to address the identified requirements (risk responses) for that person. After that, the correctional case manager actively oversees the plan during the term to make sure the client can carry out the necessary interventions.

They frequently achieve this by helping the client overcome obstacles to rehabilitation (such as enhancing a client’’s motivation to attend treatment) or by facilitating the provision of necessary outside services (e.g. accommodation provider).

What Does a Correctional Case Manager Do?

A corrections case manager assists people who are incarcerated in re-entering society. Social services and the jail system are connected via a correctional case manager.

One of the key roles of a correctional case manager is to help clients identify skills and obtain profitable employment. Additionally, they collaborate with social services to guarantee that the prisoners receive the proper care once they are released. Knowledge of the jail system and social science expertise is crucial.

Some typical correctional case manager duties include:

Maintain daily, weekly, or monthly caseload requirements.
Manage and prioritize crises involving DMP access, legal enforcement, and psychiatric hospitalization.
Foster self-reliance and independence by fostering good interpersonal interactions.
Obtain certification in CPR, first aid, and defibrillator use.
Help clients obtain a GED, career training, and meaningful employment.
Make program termination recommendations, actively coordinate custody returns, and manage emergencies in line with policy.
Keep their composure while working in stressful conditions.

What Is The Role Of A Correctional Case Manager?

The case manager’s role in corrections may change depending on where they work. However, some fundamental characteristics are generally the same across settings.

Case managers in the criminal justice system are responsible for receiving reports, supervising rehabilitation, and working with other people and organizations to ensure successful monitoring.

Today, we consequently see a spike in the need for case managers to organize formerly incarcerated people’s access to counseling and treatment. This ensures a higher likelihood of success in the community.

Case management in corrections also aims to help prepare convicts for success after release. Inmates preparing for release from prison can find jobs, housing, and educational options with the assistance of case managers who collaborate closely with community organizations.

What is a Correctional Case Manager’s Salary?

Correctional case management is one of the most sought-after positions in the social services industry. A bachelor’s degree with a criminal justice concentration is the minimum educational prerequisite for the position.

A case manager in corrections can make more money if they obtain the Certified Corrections Officer (CCO) credential. The median annual salary for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (sometimes referred to as correctional case managers) is $61,800.

The career is expected to expand by 3% between 2022 and 2032, creating 2,400 new work opportunities nationwide.

What Are Possible Correctional Case Manager Jobs?

Case managers are just one piece of creating a case plan and working with people who are incarcerated. Possible job titles and types for people interested in correctional case management include:

Case Managers Correctional Case Management Specialist: create case plans and develop programs for people who are incarcerated.
Substance Abuse Counselors: provide behavioral, mental, and emotional support services to incarcerated people who struggle with substance abuse.
Parole Officers: work with people on parole and their families to arrange services and support their needs.
Correctional Counselors: professional counselors who work with incarcerated individuals to work through issues that may include mental health problems and substance abuse.

What Is the Usual Career Trajectory of Correctional Case Managers?

There’s no one way to have a career in correctional case management. Correctional case managers may move up the corporate ladder to higher-level roles like the unit manager or program coordinator.

They might also transition to other positions in the field of corrections, like probation or parole officer. They might pursue careers as social workers, psychologists, or counselors with more training and education.

While someone may consider working as a correctional case manager for their entire career, the field struggles with high levels of burnout. The position can be emotionally draining, with case managers navigating mental, emotional, and physical challenges for their clients. Paired with the fact that there is simply not enough funding for everyone who needs services, case managers may choose to move on to a career with less stress.

How to Become a Correctional Case Manager

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or psychology is required for this position. Experience in a comparable role can be advantageous to negotiate a higher salary. Additionally, effective oral and written communication skills are essential because the duties involve interacting with customers and members of the legal system.

Correctional Case Manager Job Requirements

A correctional case manager typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: The majority of roles for correctional case managers require a bachelor’s degree at a minimum. Most businesses prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, social work, psychology, or a similar profession. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in any subject may be hired by some correctional facilities, but they must also complete a master’s program in criminal justice or social work.
Licenses & Certifications: Case managers in the correctional industry are not required to have credentials, but they are encouraged to do so to demonstrate their commitment to the position and to boost their earning potential.
Training & Experience: When case managers begin working for an organization, they typically undergo on-the-job training. The case manager gains knowledge of the particular policies and specifications of the company through this training. Depending on the business, the training could go on for a few weeks or a few months.

Correctional Case Manager Skills

Correctional case managers need the following skills to be successful:

Empathy: The capacity to comprehend and empathize with the emotions of others. You can have a lot of prisoners’ rehabilitation under your case management responsibilities. Empathy can help you establish a connection with your clients and give them the confidence to talk openly about their struggles.
Critical Thinking: To best serve their clients, case managers frequently collaborate with a group of other experts. To address issues and come up with solutions for their clients, they must have the capacity for critical thought to choose the appropriate course of action for each client.
Communication: Inmates, their supervisors, law enforcement personnel, victims and their families, parole officers, and other case managers are just a few of the people with whom case managers frequently interact. You must have effective communication skills to keep every relevant party in the loop and excellent manners when speaking with family members. Additionally, you may have to mediate disputes between criminals and law enforcement, victims and their families, or other case managers.
Organization: Case managers have a lot to do in a short amount of time. Manage your caseload and prioritize what’s most important with properly defined workflows. Save time and schedule appointments, handle paperwork, and keep track of case files through comprehensive systems (such as PlanStreet).
Problem-Solving: Case managers frequently work with people who have committed crimes and are trying to turn their lives around. These specialists frequently need to be prepared to handle issues that develop throughout the recovery process. For example, handling the challenge of acquiring employment before permanent housing (or vice versa).

5 Steps to Becoming a Correctional Case Manager

If you’re passionate about helping others in need and want to see recidivism rates decrease, then correctional case management could be the perfect position for you. To help you decide, here are six steps to becoming a correctional case manager.

Step 1: Apply to College to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

How much schooling you need to pursue a career as a correctional case manager should be one of your first considerations. When looking at how to become a correctional case manager, picking the right major is always crucial. The three most popular majors for a correctional case manager are sociology, psychology, and criminal justice.

To help you narrow down your search, the top five schools for sociology are:

Of course, you don’t have to go to an Ivy League school to become a correctional case manager. Four-year state universities can be the best way to get plugged in and learn about the criminal justice system in your community.

Step 2: Apply for Internships

To learn more about the criminal justice process and start to meet leaders in your area, apply for student internship programs at the community or state level. Here, you’ll have a chance to learn from working case managers and start to develop skills relevant to corrections, including:

Treatment plans,
Crisis intervention
Day-to-day workings in correctional facilities
Data entry

Step 3: Complete Additional Training or Education

Every state has different requirements for correctional case managers, so be sure to check the government website for requirements. It may be beneficial to pursue a Master’s degree in social work, for that typically cuts down on the years of work experience required.

Other training programs that may be helpful to secure a job in the future include:

A certification from the American Case Management Association.
The Commission for Case Manager Certification
A specialty credential from the National Association of Social Workers

Step 4: Prepare your resume

Your resume may be the first impression a hiring manager has of you. Be sure to set aside plenty of time to write the ideal CV. Look at free resources such as Kickresume for examples and find free resume design templates at Canva.

Step 5: Apply to a correctional case manager

Now that your resume is prepared, it’s time to look for a new job. After searching job boards for pertinent openings, consult your professional network and contact the institutions you are interested in working for.

Improve Correctional Case Management in Reentry Programs With PlanStreet

PlanStreet’s correctional and reentry case management software offers tools to streamline the workflows of busy case managers so they can spend more time caring for their clients.

Some of the time-saving features include:

Monitoring job performance and attendance
Health assessment forms
A comprehensive platform to work on every element of a reentry plan in one place
Centralized data and communication to better execute reentry plans

To see firsthand how PlanStreet can create holistic solutions to problems faced within correctional case management, schedule a live demo today.