WINTER 2025–2026 VOLUME 49, NUMBER 2 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PROBATION AND PAROLE ASSOCIATION WWW.APPA-NET.ORGA swebeginthe newyearand moving on from the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the profession we proudly represent and the direction in which we are moving as the American Probation and Parole Association. Every year brings its own challenges—emerging risks, evolving community needs, shifting policy landscapes, and the continued demand for transparency and effectiveness. And yet, through every transition, the strength of this field remains rooted in the relentless commitment of its people. Community corrections is one of the most dynamic and human-centered components of the justice system. It is a profession that requires patience, consistency, and clarity of purpose. The men and women across this country— and internationally—who supervise, guide, and support individuals in the justice system do so with a unique blend of accountability and compassion. Their work is often unseen, but its impact is immeasurable. It is precisely because our work is so important and so people-driven that we must continue to place a strong and intentional emphasis on APPA’s Professional Standards. Standards are not merely guidelines on a shelf; they represent a shared commitment to excellence across the entire field of community corrections. They ensure that the services delivered in a rural county in Oklahoma align with those in a metropolitan agency in New York City. They help us move toward a system where fairness is not determined by geography, where evidence guides practice, and where every agency— regardless of size—has a pathway to achieving excellence. Why Standards Matter Now More Than Ever The justice system continues to evolve. We are witnessing rapid development in technology, data analytics, trauma-informed care, officer safety innovations, and evidence-based practices. But without a consistent framework, these advancements can be unevenly adopted and inc onsistently implemented. APPA’s Standards offer a stabilizing foundation—a compass that keeps our field aligned with research, with emerging best practices, and with the expectations of the communities we serve. Consistency across agencies enhances transparency. It strengthens public trust. It supports officer wellness by reducing ambiguity. It allows policymakers to understand what high-quality community supervision should look like. And, most importantly, it ensures that the people under our supervision receive equitable treatment and opportunities for positive change. At a time when our field is being asked to show results, explain decisions, and demonstrate effectiveness, standards give us the language, structure, and credibility to do so. This year, APPAhas recommitted itself to elevating and modernizing these standards—ensuring they reflect the realities of today’s work while also anticipating the future. We are building a stronger bridge between practice and research and creating clearer pathways for agencies to implement, assess, and sustain high-quality supervision practices. This work will remain a priority throughout my presidency. The Holidays:AReminder of What Truly Matters While our profession is grounded in purpose, service, and accountability, we are also human.And humans need rest. This season is an important reminder of that truth. I hope your holiday period gave each of us a chance to pause and reconnect—with our families, our friends, our communities, and our own sense of balance. Whether you celebrated with large family gatherings, quiet reflection, travel, or simply time away from the pace of daily operations. I hope you took time to relax and stepped back from the intensity of the work. In a field where we constantly give of ourselves—our time, our patience, our guidance, our energy—rest is not optional. It is restorative. It is protective. It is essential for sustaining both wellness and performance. For many of you, this year may have brought professional milestones or perhaps professional challenges. It may have brought growth, new president’s message MARCUS M. HODGES PRESIDENTresponsibilities, or unexpected change. Whatever your journey has been, I hope the holiday season gave you a moment of renewal.Amoment to feel proud of what you have accomplished.Amoment to recalibrate and prepare for what lies ahead. The Work We Do Matters—Every Day Community corrections professionals often operate in quiet heroism.You work evenings, weekends, holidays, and in emergency situations. You manage risk, support change, and navigate complex psychosocial needs.You stand at the intersection of accountability and hope. And every day, you contribute to safer communities, stronger families, and better outcomes for individuals seeking to rebuild their lives. Your work transforms systems. Your leadership transforms organizations. Your compassion transformspeople. It is no small thing. As we begin the new year, I want every member ofAPPA —from line staff to executives, from researchers to policymakers, from service providers to volunteers—to feel recognized and valued.You are the backbone of a profession that saves lives, reduces harm, and builds pathways to brighter futures. Looking Ahead with Purpose I am energized about where we are headed as an association. Our commitment to standards, to professional development, to innovation, and to the well- being of our workforce remains unwavering.APPA will continue strengthening partnerships, amplifying research, elevating voices from the field, and promoting national consistency that benefitsevery agency—and every community—in our network. In the coming year, we will deepen our focus on: •Standards implementation and modernization •Officer wellness, resilience, and safety •Evidence-based decision-making and data transparency •Equitable access to programs and services •Leadership development at all levels •Collaboration that bridges systems and strengthens outcomes This is an exciting time for community corrections, and I am honored to serve alongside such capable, dedicated, and visionary professionals. AFinal Word of Gratitude Thank you for your serv ice.Thank you for your integrity. Thank you for showing up for the people who need guidance, structure, support, and accountability. Thank you for embracing both the science and the humanity of this work. Stay encouraged, stay energized, and come into the new year ready to continue the extraordinary mission we share. With deep appreciation and respect,O ver the years, you’ve probably read many articles exploring different aspects of our challenging profession. (I certainly hope you have!) Let’s focus on the word “challenging” here, because it seems to me that every article related to the work we do includes “challenge” or “challenging” at least once, if not multiple times. Those words are definitely not absent from my own writing! On a whim, I went to the Merriam-Webster website to look up this term. Under the definition of a challenge, it read, “something that requires thought and skill for resolution,” with similar words ranging from quite serious, like the rather dire quagmire and pitfall, to the playful puzzle, poser, and brainteaser, and then to the enticing stumper, toughie, and sticky wicket. “Sticky wicket”—a term from my new sport of interest, which was invented in England, cricket—refers informally to a playing field that’s become damp or soft, causing a ball to bounce unpredictably, making it difficult to perform well or score, especially if the batsman is unaware of the issue. An analogy that comes to mind is that an unexpected or unfortunate factor may affect someone under supervision, causing that individual to behave unpredictably in a way that creates difficulties for both the individual and the supervising officer. Two articles in this issue of Perspectives discuss issues that can have a negative impact if, like a cricket batsman, the supervising officer is unaware of a problem. Johnny Alexander promotes awareness in his article, “Breaking Generational Chains: The Hidden Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Black Fathers in Community Corrections.” As he emphasizes, agencies and officers must be vigilant about the lasting impact that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have on adult health and behavioral outcomes. He argues that ACEs are key responsivity factors that might be difficult to notice but will influence how individuals interact with supervision. Focusing on ACEs and including appropriate strategies in supervision policies and practices can help reduce recidivism while also breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma and restoring fathers to families. In another article, “A Hidden Need: Menstruation from Incarceration Through Reintegration,” contributor Lindsay R.Smith highlights an often-overlooked issue that is a stressor strong enough to affect the success of those under supervision. A lack of awareness or dismissive attitude toward the needs of menstruators has been an ongoing issue--a problem worsened by stigma. The cost of menstrual management products is significant, especially for those with limited resources, and taking breaks or time off to manage menstrual flow and related symptoms can lead to issues at work. Smith makes a cogent case for ensuring access to suitable menstrual products and addressing related issues, such as the need for access to private bathrooms for changing and disposing of these products. Again, the menstruation needs of those under supervision may be overlooked due to cost and stress, but they should not be ignored or allowed to hinder an individual’s chances of successful reentry into the community. Returning to sticky wicket problems and our need to overcome them, it seems that some renowned cricketers have developed an exceptional ability to perform on sticky wickets. That’s good to know, but I assume that technique and skill in cricket batting are not easily studied. Fortunately for us, technique and skill in community supervision are amenable to research, and our practices and outcomes have been studied for decades. APPA has incorporated that knowledge into its national standards, which were published in 2024 after five years of dedicated effort by an outstanding group of community supervision practitioners, current and former leaders, researchers, and subject-matter specialists. It is the subject of our third article, “APPA National Standards for Community Supervision and the Purpose of Community Supervision,” by Dr. Brian Lovins. Dr. Lovins encourages agencies to widely follow standards of practice that can elevate our profession and increase success. As he points out, aligning standards of practice across jurisdictions doesn’t mean losing the ability for any department also to develop local programming that suits their community. Nevertheless, APPA’s National Standards for Community Supervision offer a clear framework that enables all probation and parole departments to implement core components with effective strategies for meeting the needs of those under supervision and establishing expectations for a high- VERONICA CUNNINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ CEO APPA executive director/ceo’s messagequality department. Like Dr. Lovins, I urge each agency to adopt and consistently im plement best practices and “what works.” I would like to conclude by sincerely thanking the contributors to this issue as well as the readers. I must say that I am looking ahead. I am optimistic that 2026 will be the year when our combined efforts lead to significant and transformative progress, not only in the topics covered in this edition but across the entire field. So, thanks in advance. I hopeyour holidays were filled with the joyful cricket of cheerand goodness. In these challenging times for our nation,please remember to pause, step back from the demands,and intentionally prioritize the rest needed to rechargeyour spirit.And, if possible, help someone in need. Sending comfort and happiness to families at home andwork.Perspectives disseminates information to the American Probation and Parole Association’s members on relevant policy and program issues and provides updates on activities of the Association. The membership represents adult and juvenile probation, parole, and community corrections agencies throughout the United States and abroad. Articles submitted for publication are screened by an editorial committee and, on occasion, selected reviewers, to determine acceptability based on relevance to the field of criminal justice, clarity of presentation, or research methodology. Perspectives does not reflect unsupported personal opinions. Articles must be emailed to perspectives@csg.org in accordance with the following deadlines: • Unless previously discussed with the editors, submissions should not exceed 12 typed pages, numbered consecutively, and double-spaced. All charts, graphs, tables, and photographs must be of reproduction quality. Optional titles may be submitted and selected after review with the editors. •All submissions must be in English and in American Psychological Association (APA) Style. • Authors should provide a one-paragraph biography, along with contact information. • Notes should be used only for clarification or substantive comments, and should appear at the end of the text. • References to source documents should appear in the body of the text with the author’s surname and the year of publication in parentheses, e.g., to (Mattson, 2015, p. 73). • Alphabetize each reference at the end of the text using the following format: • Mattson, B. (2015). Technology supports decision making in health and justice. Perspectives, 39(4), 70-79. •Hanser, R. D. (2014). Community corrections (2 nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. While the editors of Perspectives reserve the right to suggest modifications to any contribution, all authors will be responsible for, and given credit for, final versions of articles selected for publication. Submissions will not be returned to contributors. instructions to authorsaffiliate members Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences American Correctional Association Association of Paroling Authorities International Association of Women Executives in Corrections Chief Probation Officers of CA Confederation of European Probation FL Association of Community Corrections IJIS Institute International Community Justice Association Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies National Association of Probation Executives National Crime Prevention Council New England Council on Crime and Delinquency New Zealand Association of Probation Officers OH Chief Probation Officers Association Probation & Community Corrections Officers Association of Australia Probation Association of New Jersey Probation Officers Association of Wielkopolska Probation Officers Professional Association of IN VA Probation and Parole AssociationAPPA NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION BY BRIAN LOVINS, PHD 29 8 PRODUCTION STAFF 9-10 APPA CORPORATE MEMBERS corporate members 13 A HIDDEN NEED: MENSTRUATION FROM INCARCERATION THROUGH REINTEGRATION BY LINDSAY SMITH BREAKING GENERATIONAL CHAINS: THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF ACES ON BLACK FATHERS IN COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS BY JOHNNY ALEXANDER 23 featuresPRODUCTION STAFF Veronica CunninghamEditor in Chief Kimberly KrasPerspectives Co-Editor Katie MeyerPerspectives Co-Editor Elisabeth Gill-MelendezManaging Editor Travis JohnsonProduction Coordinator Matt GoddardGraphic Designer DIRECTORY APPA Main (859)244-8204 Publication Orders (859)244-8204 General Training Institute (859) 244-8236 Information Clearinghouse (859) 244-8204 Membership (859)244-8212 Request for Training (859)244-8236 Resource Expo (859)244-8206 Advertising (859)244-8206 Grants/TA (859)244-8015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Marcus HodgesPresident Pamerson O. IfillPresident-Elect Isabel Perez-MorinaVice President Tania ApplingTreasurer Suwana KirklandSecretary Susan RiceImmediate Past President Scott TaylorSecond Past President Audrey RigsbeeAffiliate Representative DeAnna Hoskins Member At-Large Alyza GonzalezLine Staff Representative Jennifer BradyRegion 1 Representative Hannah CochranRegion 2 Representative Dena DavisRegion 3 Representative Gene CotterRegion 4 Representative LaTasha JonesRegion 5 Representative Veronica CunninghamExecutive Director/CEO Communications should be addressed to: American Probation and Parole Association c/o 2024 American Probation and Parole Association 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY, 40511 Fax: (859) 244-8001, E-mail: appa@csg.org Website: www.appa-net.org Perspectives is published four times annually by the American Probation and Parole Association through its secretariat office in Lexington, Kentucky. ISSN 0821-1507 Reprint permission. Direct requests for permission to use material published in Perspectives in writing to perspectives@csg.org. ©2024 The Council of State Governments CO-CHAIRS: KATIE MEYER Program Manager Evident Change 717 John Nolen Dr. Madison, WI 53713 Phone: (800) 306-6223 kmeyer@evidentchange.org KIMBERLY R. KRAS, PHD Associate Professor School of Public Affairs San Diego State University Department of Criminal Justice School of Public Affairs 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182 Phone: (619) 594-1158 kkras@sdsu.edu ELISABETH GILL- MELENDEZ, MANAGING EDITOR Associate Professor School of Public Affairs San Diego State University Department of Criminal Justice School of Public Affairs 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182 Phone: (619) 594-1158 egillmelendez4958@sdsu.edu MEMBERS: Eileen Ahlin, PhD, Penn State Harrisburg Lauren Duhaime, PhD, CNA Phillip Galli, PhD, St. Croix County Lily Gleicher, PhD, The Bail Project Shelley Johnson, PhD, University of North Carolina - Charlotte Jennifer Lanterman, PhD, University of Nevada Reno Susan Wright, PA Counseling Reveka Schteynberg, California State University, San Bernardino Melissa Waldock, Kansas Department of Corrections Mark Stodola, Probation Fellow Jill Viglione, PhD, University of Central Florida editorial board The American Probation and Parole Association is an affiliate of and receives its secretariat services from The Council of State Governments (CSG). CSG, the multibranch association of the states and U.S. territories, works with state leaders across the nation and through its regions to put the best ideas and solutions into practice.Allied Universal Electronic Monitoring Kerri Ryan, Strategic Marketing Manager 1838 Gunn Hwy, Odessa, FL 33556 kerri.ryan@em.aus.com Allvest Services dba Vant4ge Sean Hosman, CEO. PO Box 1802, Salt Lake City UT - 84110-1802 shosman@vant4ge.com Averhealth Justin Manni, Vice President of Business Development 2916 W. Marshall Street, Suite A Richmond, VA 23230 jmanni@averhealth.com Buddi ED Harrison, Director of Sales & Service Buddi US, LLC 2710 Alt 19 North, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Ed@buddi.us Cognisen Christian Britton 1029 16th Street Modesto, CA 95354 Christian.britton@cognisen.com Corrections Software Solutions James Redus, President 316 North Lamar Street, Austin, TX 78703 jredus@correctionssoftware.com Fieldware Susan Rice, Senior Customer Success Manager 159 N. Sangamon St. Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60607 ktomlinson@fieldware.com www.fieldware.com 866-225-1394 Geo Care Monica Hook, VP, Communications 4955 Technology Way Boca Raton, FL 33431-3367 mhook@geocareinc.com Indivior Scott Schoenborn, Therapeutic Area Lead 10710 Midlothian Tpke, Suite 430 North Chesterfield, VA 23235-4722 scott.schoenborn@indivior.com Intoxalock Linda Vadel, Affiliate Marketing Coordinator 11035 Aurora Ave, Des Moines, IA 50322 lvadel@intoxalock.com GoSafe Telematics Company Jiang Mona Room 401-6, Building1, No 42 Dongzhong Road Huangpu District Guagdong, China 510765 Export7@gosafesystem.com Journal Technologies Kathy Cullen, Marketing Director 915 E 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA - 90012 kcullen@journaltech.com LifeSafer MaryBeth Graff, Marketing Coordinator 1411 Diggs Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603 marybeth.graff@scramsystems.com National Curriculum and Training Institute Gary Bushkin, President 319 East McDowell Road, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85004-1534 gary@ncti.org Noble Software Group Diana DeMedio, President 108 Rosewood ST, Lake Jackson, TX 77566-4937 ddemedio@noblesg.com Premier Biotech Todd Bailey, President P.O. Box 296 Excelsior, MN 55331 tbailey@premierbiotech.com Reconnect Pete Andrews, CEO 1 Faraday Drive Cumberland, ME 04021 pete.andrews@reconnect.io Corporations with an interest in the field of probation, parole, and community corrections are invited to become APPA corporate members. Corporate members receive benefits such as enhanced visibility among APPA’s international network of community corrections professionals, as well as shared information on the latest trends and issues that specifically affect community corrections. CORPORATE MEMBER corporate members Continued on page 10...Next >