This year’s NCCHC National Conference on Correctional Health Care brought together more than 1,400 correctional health professionals from 49 states, Israel, Puerto Rico, and Singapore, creating an extraordinary five-day experience filled with learning, inspiration, and community. The response from attendees was overwhelming: 97% said they gained knowledge that will enhance their professional practice, and 96% reported meaningful opportunities to learn from and with others on the health care team.

From preconference deep dives into the new 2026 Standards to standing-room-only clinical sessions, this year’s National Conference demonstrated why it remains the essential gathering for those committed to quality care in correctional settings.

A Powerful Start: New Standards Take Center Stage

The conference kicked off with preconference seminars dedicated to the newly released NCCHC Jail, Prison, and Mental Health Standards. More than 200 attendees joined the full-day intensive on the new jail and prison Standards—one of the most popular preconference programs in years. Participants called the session “tremendously informative” and praised its ability to keep them “fully engaged from start to finish.”

These Standards sessions set the tone for the week: practical, forward-focused education delivering tools that professionals can take home and implement immediately. In fact, many attendees reported that they would be sharing Standards updates with their teams as soon as they returned to their facilities.

High-Demand Sessions Address Today’s Most Urgent Challenges

Once the main conference began, attendees had up to seven concurrent sessions from which to choose—covering the full spectrum of medical, mental health, administrative, and legal issues shaping the field.

Topics in highest demand included:

• Medication-assisted treatment (MOUD/MAT)
• Mental health services in restrictive housing
• Documentation and risk reduction
• Leadership and workforce resilience

Sessions supporting professionals in the unique correctional environment drew particular enthusiasm. Conversations about “noncompliant” patients, drug-seeking behavior, compassion fatigue, the power of empathetic care, and the “art of saying no” resonated deeply.

What Attendees Are Taking Home

Feedback from the conference makes it clear: this event doesn’t just inform—it transforms practice.

According to post-conference evaluations:

• 87% said the conference enhanced their competence
• 87% said it will improve patient outcomes
• Attendees highlighted topics they intend to implement at home, including:
  • Updates to the new 2026 Standards
  • Improved suicide prevention practices
  • New approaches to MOUD and diversion planning
  • Better documentation strategies
  • Techniques to manage chronic diseases, seizures, pregnancy-related emergencies, and more
  • Leadership strategies to strengthen teams and reduce burnout
  • Trauma-informed and empathy-centered care practices
  • Enhanced cross-disciplinary collaboration

One attendee summed up the impact: “There is nowhere else to get this kind of education for our unique setting. It’s inspiring to be around others who ‘get it.’”

A Thriving Community: Networking at Its Best

The National Conference is as much about connection as it is about education. This year:

• 96% said they had adequate networking opportunities
• Attendees visited the Exhibit Hall multiple times, with 77% exploring new products and services and nearly half engaging with current suppliers to solve real-world challenges.

Participants also reported building lasting professional relationships—sharing best practices, swapping innovative ideas, and joining together to strengthen correctional health care nationwide.

Looking Ahead: Join Us in 2026

If this year’s conference is any indication, the momentum behind correctional health care is stronger than ever. Professionals left Baltimore energized and equipped with new knowledge, tools, and partnerships—ready to enhance care for patients and support their teams back home.

NCCHC’s 2026 conferences offer multiple opportunities to stay engaged and continue learning:

• NCCHC Spring Conference on Correctional Health Care
  April 18–21, 2026 | New Orleans, LA
• NCCHC Correctional Mental Health Care Conference
  July 18-20, 2026 | Austin, TX
• NCCHC National Conference on Correctional Health Care
  October 24–28, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV

Visit ncchc.org for details.