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

In correctional case management, case managers work with persons who are in custody to arrange services and provide active and loving assistance to help them live an offense-free life, and enable a successful transition to probation colleagues or directly into the community.

A thorough, staged strategy for rehabilitation and reintegration is developed by correctional case managers in collaboration with all stakeholders. To determine the person’s needs for rehabilitation and reintegration, the case manager conducts thorough assessment interviews with them before the sentence.

What Happens in Correctional Case Management?

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 offender can carry out the necessary interventions.

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

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, which pays an average of $36,037 per year.

What Does A Correctional Case Manager Do?

As was previously mentioned, a correctional case manager assists condemned offenders in reintegrating into society as useful members of society. Social services and the jail system are connected via a correctional case manager.

Working with prisoners as they complete their sentences to assist them to identify skills they may utilize to find profitable employment after release is one of a correctional case manager’s key roles.

Additionally, they collaborate with social services to guarantee that the prisoners receive the proper care once they are released from custody. Knowledge of the jail system and social science expertise is crucial.

Here are some typical duties of correctional case managers that they would probably carry out in their positions.

• Maintain daily, weekly, or monthly caseload requirements
• Manage and prioritize individual 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 emergency situations in line with policy
• React appropriately in emergencies and keep their composure while working in stressful conditions

 

What Is The Role Of A Correctional Case Manager?

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

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

Today, we consequently see a spike in the need for case managers to organize offenders’ access to the counseling and treatment necessary to ensure their higher likelihood of success in the community.

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

 

What Is The Earning Potential Of A Correctional Case Manager?

Correctional case managers 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 $51,410, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics.

Probation officer’s and correctional treatment experts’ employment is anticipated to increase by 6% between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The career is anticipated to expand by 3% between 2018 and 2028, creating 3,000 new work opportunities nationwide.

The majority of case managers working in prisons identify substance addiction, treatment plans, and crisis intervention, among their skills.

What Are Possible Job Titles For Correctional Case Management?

The possible job titles in the field of correctional case management may include:

• Correctional Case Management Specialist
• Correctional Case Manager
• Corrections Case Manager
• Correctional Case Treatment Specialist

 

What Are the Advancement Prospects Of Correctional Case Managers?

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.

 

How To Become A Correctional Case Manager?

Correctional case managers assist clients in obtaining social services, counseling, and job training. They also assist them in locating educational possibilities and managing the emotional components of their transition.

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

Here we are listing some qualifications that you’ll need to become a correctional case manager:

 

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:

1. 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.
2. 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, they must also be able to think critically.
3. 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 can answer inquiries and present information more effectively by having effective communication skills. Additionally, you can utilize your communication abilities to mediate disputes between criminals and law enforcement, victims and their families, or other case managers.
4. Organization: Case managers frequently have a large number of duties to finish in a short amount of time. You can manage your workload and prioritize your obligations by having good organizing skills. You can manage your calendar, handle paperwork, and keep track of case files by using organizational abilities.
5. 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.
   A case manager might, for instance, assist a client in establishing employment before guiding them through the difficulties of locating affordable accommodation.

Steps to Becoming a Correctional Case Manager

Here are a few steps to becoming a correctional case manager:

Step 1: Look into training for correctional case managers

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.

Step 2: Develop your case manager abilities for prisons

Before applying for a job, it will be a good idea to strengthen your correctional case manager skills. Experience managing cases including substance misuse, treatment plans, crisis intervention, correctional facilities, data entry, and other related matters are among the qualifications frequently needed for jobs as case managers in the criminal justice system.

Step 3: Finish the necessary training or internship

On-the-job training for case managers in correctional facilities lasts, on average, 6 to 12 months after hire. New correctional case managers receive the training necessary for their position and employer throughout this period.

Step 4: Examine the tasks of a correctional case manager

It’s crucial to understand the obligations and duties involved in the job of a correctional case manager before deciding to pursue this career. Most employment for correctional case managers includes some basic duties.

Step 5: Prepare your resume

After verifying your qualifications and understanding of the duties of the position, you may begin drafting your resume. It can take hours, days, or even weeks to complete all that goes into writing the ideal CV.

Step 6: 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 make direct contact with the businesses you are interested in working for. Keep an eye out for work scams throughout.

The Bottom Line

Correctional case management is a rewarding and hard profession. You will be in charge of managing the rehabilitation of inmates at a prison or jail as a correctional case manager. You will work with individuals to create tailored plans that cater to their requirements and assist them in getting ready for life after being released from detention.

It can be easier to decide if this is the perfect career for you if you are aware of the typical responsibilities of a correctional case manager and how to become one. We hope that we were able to properly cover the following topics in this article: what a correctional case manager is, what their duties are, and how you can become one.

The need for skilled professionals in all fields of social services is constantly on the rise in the US as well as globally. Correctional case management, especially, is among the most pursued careers in social work today. With the right skills and temperament, you can ace this career and enjoy promising growth prospects.