Frequently Asked Questions
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FAQ's are answers to Frequently Asked Questions asked about NIC's services and resources. Click on one of the titles to see the answer. We recommend using the search function to find what you're looking for and so that you're not endlessly scrolling for things that aren't relevant to your needs.
Am I eligible to received research assistance?
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The NIC Information Center is a resource for those working in the field of corrections, and the assistance it provides (searching the library, locating resources, and providing referrals) is available at no cost.
The Information Center is not staffed to provide legal advice, directly assist offenders/ex-offenders, or friends and family of offenders. Only limited support is available for students, educators, and consultants.
If I can't get to NIC's physical library in Aurora, Colorado; how can I read materials the research experts recommend?
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In many cases, copies of the material can be sent or loaned to you. In other cases, we can send you copies of relevant portions of materials.
Where do I send my completed travel and per diem forms?
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Completed and signed travel forms, along with any documentation, must be emailed to NICTravel@bop.gov
Where do I mail my completed voucher forms?
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Mail completed fee vouchers to the NIC office that coordinated with you for the work:
- NIC Academy Division,
11900 E. Cornell Ave., Unit C,
Aurora, CO 80014
- NIC Prisons, Jails, Community Services, Research & Information Services, or Administration Divisions,
320 First St. NW, Room 5002
Washington, DC 20534
- NIC Academy Division,
What is the phone number for the travel agency?
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Our current travel contractor is Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). Listen carefully to the prompts. Press #1 for new reservations; press #1 again for NIC, which will allow you to speak with a travel agent.. You must have the program number ready to provide the travel agent. If CWT hasn’t received the authorization to book your flight, you may not be able make your reservation. Their phone number is 1-866-530-0062.
Contact the NIC staff person who is authorizing your travel if you have any questions.
Can the travel agency assist me with car rental and hotel reservations?
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Yes, CWT can assist you with car rental and hotel reservations. If a credit card is required for the reservation, you will have to provide one to the agent. NIC does not pay these costs up front.
Where do I claim expenses? Both forms (voucher and travel and per diem) have expenses listed.
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The voucher form covers your fees for preparation, travel, on site work, and report writing in addition to miscellaneous expenses, such as phone, secretarial duties, printing, and postage/shipping.
The travel and per diem claim form covers any travel-related expense, such as baggage fees, parking, tolls, hotel, car rental, taxi or shuttle service, and gas.
If you have expenses other than these please contact the NIC staff person who is authorizing your travel.
Can I change my flight reservations to accommodate personal travel?
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If you want to change your travel arrangements to something other than those originally authorized, you must receive authorization from NIC. If the change is for personal travel, NIC is not permitted to authorize the changes (per federal travel regulations). You will need to make those changes directly with the airline once the tickets are issued. You are responsible for any costs related to the change.
How Do I Find the NIC Learn Center?
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The NIC Learn Center can be found here: https://learn.nicic.gov/
Please bookmark this new url as this is the correct address and will not change.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we upgrade our online Learn Center.
Do you give grants for equipment and training?
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NIC is not a funding agency. We do not provide you with a grant to purchase equipment or procure training. NIC does not provide funds directly to an agency. When we provide assistance, we fund the cost of consultants' travel and time.
How is NIC’s TA work different from its training programs?
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Typically, an NIC TA engagement is a tailored response to a specific, limited need of a single requesting corrections agency. While some types of non-standard training may be delivered through TA, NIC’s training programs comprise standardized curricula that address a range of core correctional issues and are responsive to a range of corrections training needs.
Who receives the technical assistance report?
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Both NIC and the agency representative who requested the technical assistance will receive a copy of the technical assistance report. The agency is free to distribute the report.
Upon delivery of the final Technical Assistance report to the agency that requested the assistance, the report becomes the property of that agency. The National Institute of Corrections will not distribute the report to non-NIC entities, or consider it an agency record under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), without the express, written approval of the agency.
Learn More: For more information about the Freedom of Information Act, visit https://www.bop.gov/foia/#tabs-0
Is my agency eligible to receive TA from NIC?
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Any local, state, federal, or tribal corrections agency is eligible to receive TA services from NIC.
Can NIC make a staffing analysis, population projection, and/or feasibility study for our agency?
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No, NIC cannot provide such services. These studies are very lengthy and complicated, and we do not have the resources to do them.
What NIC can do is assist your agency in building the capacity to conduct these analyses, on its own, through training and materials available through the NIC Information Center. We can also help you understand how to get funding to support these initiatives.
Is NIC able to fulfill every request submitted for TA?
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Due to budget and staffing limitations, NIC cannot fulfill all the requests for TA it receives. However, NIC will review each TA request and will provide a response to the requesting agency. In cases where the request cannot be met, NIC strives to provide information about alternate resources that may be useful to the requestor.
Does my agency pay for the TA?
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NIC’s TA services are paid for through funds provided to the agency by Congress to support the work of the agency. Typically, the requesting agency will be expected to provide meeting space, or other relevant information, and necessary access to facilities or agency staff.
Can NIC pay for a keynote speaker at our conference?
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No, NIC cannot provide funding for keynote speakers at a conference. However, NIC can provide training at a conference, providing it meets our initiatives.
Will I be required to sign a formal agreement before receiving TA?
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NIC’s TA application form and other paperwork to initiate a TA engagement will stipulate all the conditions regarding receiving TA services from NIC. For example, the expectations for the TA regarding when it will start, how long it will last, the level of agency support expected from the requestor, what services NIC will provide, and how the TA engagement will conclude may be included along with other information. Typically, the requesting agency is expected to complete a detailed assessment (and, in some cases, a follow up assessment) to discern the effect of the TA services.
Will NIC will certify my jail?
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No, NIC does not certify jails, even with a court order. NIC is not an investigatory or regulatory agency. NIC’s interest is in determining how best you can provide detention services in your community in a manner that is safe for inmates, staff and the public.
Does the National Institute of Corrections certify jails?
No, the National Institute of Corrections does not certify jails because it isn't a regulatory agency nor is it investigatory agency. NIC does help jails improve their training, processes, and procedures to better serve their incarcerated individuals, staff, and community.
How quickly will my agency receive TA?
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TA services can begin almost immediately depending on the services sought, the availability of NIC resources, the availability of the agency, and the urgency of the requestor’s need. In most cases, TA services begin within a few months of the request.
Once TA has begun, what changes can be made?
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Occasionally, NIC begins a TA engagement with an agency only to discover that, due to changing circumstances, the services requested are not as originally planned. NIC maintains a flexible stance and a willingness to adjust each TA engagement to ensure that services provided meet the actual needs of the requesting agency and that NIC’s limited resources are used efficiently and effectively.
Can I request more than one type of TA at the same time?
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Yes. Because NIC is committed to delivering TA that is tailored to your agency, we understand that there are times when you may need help with more than one issue. However, remember that each request is reviewed on its own merit and that your agency should be able to demonstrate its capacity to engage in multiple projects at the same time.
If my agency has received TA in the past, can I submit additional requests for the same issue?
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Yes. However, NIC is committed to ensuring that any TA you receive will help build capacity in your agency. As with any other request, NIC will carefully review your information to determine the level of need and what our response will be.