Advancing Corrections Journal Call for Papers: Effecting Change in Corrections

The upcoming edition centers on a theme that resonates across jurisdictions: "Effecting Change in Corrections." Unlike previous calls that focused on specific programs or policies, this edition seeks to examine the actual process of change itself, from initial planning through implementation and beyond.

 

Correctional agencies face constant pressure to adapt. Whether responding to new legislation, addressing emerging crises, or pursuing improved outcomes, the need for change is unrelenting. Yet the journal's editors note that too often, well-intentioned reforms remain theoretical, failing to translate into meaningful practice on the ground.

 

The journal aims to bridge this gap by collecting real-world accounts of how change unfolds in correctional environments. Submissions should move beyond describing what changed to explore how the change happened, what obstacles emerged, and whether the intended outcomes materialized.

 

Papers should examine change initiatives in either institutional or community corrections settings. The editorial team welcomes accounts of both strategically planned reforms and changes implemented under pressure from political mandates or crisis situations.

 

Strong submissions will address several key elements: a clear description of the change and its intended goals, the challenges encountered during implementation, the role of evidence in supporting decisions, methods used to assess impact, and lessons learned that could inform future efforts.

 

The journal particularly seeks contributions from non-Western settings and low-resource environments, recognizing that innovation occurs across all contexts and that the global corrections community benefits from diverse perspectives.

 

Beyond case studies, the editors welcome analytical pieces exploring factors that lead to successful or failed implementation, research on practitioner perspectives, and discussions of how to integrate change into daily operations rather than layering it on top of existing work.

 

Advancing Corrections distinguishes itself from academic journals by writing for practitioners. While submissions should reference relevant scholarly work and respect evidence, they must remain accessible to those working directly in corrections.

 

The journal will not accept marketing materials disguised as scholarship. Papers promoting specific products or services without supporting effectiveness data will be rejected. Similarly, submissions using dehumanizing language when referring to incarcerated or supervised individuals will require revision.

 

 

Papers should range from seven to fifteen pages, approximately 2,000 to 5,000 words excluding references. Longer research-oriented manuscripts may be considered based on merit. Before submitting, authors must provide a summary explaining how their paper relates to the edition's theme.

 

Published papers reach a global audience. Digital versions become available to all ICPA full members worldwide, while several hundred print copies are distributed to professional members, agency executives, authors, and editorial board members.

 

 

For the editorial team, this call for papers represents more than an academic exercise. It reflects a conviction that understanding how change actually works in correctional settings can help agencies navigate future reforms more effectively, turning evidence and good intentions into lasting improvements in practice.