Description
This course empowers corrections leaders to harness data for smarter decision-making and transformative leadership. In today’s complex environment, data is more than numbers—it’s the key to crafting compelling public narratives, countering misinformation, and steering strategic priorities. Yet the vast amount of data generated in corrections settings, combined with the challenges of extracting meaningful insights and navigating bureaucratic hurdles, can make this task daunting.
Designed for leaders of corrections agencies and their executive staff, this course provides practical tools and insights to bring data-driven decision-making to your team. Learn directly from experienced corrections leaders and CSG Justice Center experts how to overcome common barriers and use data effectively to drive impactful changes in your organization.
The lessons are designed to help corrections leaders leverage the full potential of data to strengthen public trust and shape strategic priorities. This course offers practical tools and proven strategies to help you navigate the challenges of managing vast amounts of information and translating it into meaningful insights. It bridges the gap between overwhelming data and impactful leadership, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to turn information into action, refine your agency’s direction, and lead with confidence and clarity.
Intended Audience
This course is designed for leaders of corrections agencies and their executive staff. There are no prerequisites for this course. Corrections leaders have varying levels of experience with data and data analysis, and we have designed this course with that in mind.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, learners will be able to do the following:
- Essential Metrics and KPIs: Discover nationally recognized key performance indicators to monitor and measure success in corrections.
- Strategic Data Analysis: Develop the skills to ask the right questions about graphs, charts, and tables, ensuring you focus on actionable insights.
- Proven Practices: Explore real-world case studies and best practices from top corrections leaders.
- Practical Resources: Leverage tools and support available through your research and analysis office to maximize your organization’s potential
Structure
This course consists of seven self-paced lessons, each focusing on different aspects of leading on data. You can take them in order or sample lessons in a different order if one or two topics seem most relevant. Each lesson consists of a video presentation and written guidance for reference. Lessons 2, 3, and 4 provide a learning check that allows you to test what you’ve retained. Lessons 5, 6, and 7 offer real-world examples of the course principles in action, using the voices and stories of corrections agencies across the country.
| Lesson |
Learning Objectives |
| 1: Introduction to Using Data in Corrections |
- Understand the basics of data-driven decision-making in corrections and its importance.
|
| 2: Charting the Course with Data |
- Create and adjust key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure successes in your department.
- Integrate data-driven leadership strategies into your daily work.
|
| 3: How to Ask Smart Questions and Interpret Results |
- Ask your data team the right questions to get the insights you need.
- Confidently make sense of the graphs, charts, and tables you receive.
- Level up your team’s analyses by asking about rates and statistical significance.
|
| 4: Making Data Work for Your Executive Team |
- Implement strategies to improve how your executive team uses data.
- Promote collaboration between leaders and data teams.
- Enhance the quality and relevance of currently available data.
|
| 5: Data, Corrections, and the Real World: How the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Uses Data to Identify Staffing Challenges and Boost Retention |
- Featuring Andy Barbee. Director, Office of Strategic Initiatives and Modernization, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
|
Estimated Time to Complete
4 hours
