Evidence-based Practices (EBP) - EBP in a Variety of Criminal Justice Settings
Topics in Community Corrections, Annual Issue 2008: Applying Evidence-Based Practices in Pretrial Services
Articles in this issue include:
- “Foreword” by Ken Rose
- “A Framework for Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Pretrial Services” by John Clark
- “Advancing Evidence-Based Practices in the Pretrial Field” by Katie Green, Pat Smith, and Kristina Bryant
- “Improving Pretrial Assessment and Supervision in Colorado” by Michael R. Jones and Sue Ferrere
- “Pretrial Defendants: Are They Getting Too Much of a Good Thing?” by Barbara M. Hankey
- “Charge Specialty and Revictimization of Defendants Charged with Domestic Violence Offenses” by Spurgeon Kennedy
- “Pretrial...
Comprehensive Framework for Paroling Authorities in an Era of Evidence-Based Practice
A “framework that identifies the characteristics and competencies that paroling authorities must have to be effective in implementing evidence-based practices in the context of transition programs and services” is presented (p.8). These sections follow an executive summary: introduction; the impact of history on current reform efforts; the key elements of the parole process-the institutional, reentry, community, and discharge phases; the foundation of system effectiveness-evidence-based practice, organizational development, and collaboration; moving forward; and conclusion. An appendix lists intermediate and process measures...
Evidence-Based Practice to Reduce Recidivism: Implications for State Judiciaries
The reduction of recidivism by state judiciaries utilizing six principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) is explained. Seven sections follow an executive summary: introduction; current state sentencing policies and their consequences; drug courts -- the state judiciary's successful experiment with EBP; the principles of EBP; local sentencing and corrections policy reforms; state sentencing and corrections policy reforms; and conclusion. "[C]arefully targeted rehabilitation and treatment programs can reduce offender recidivism by conservative estimates of 10-20%" (p. 72).
Evidence-Based Practice: Principles for Enhancing Correctional Results in Prisons
"The purpose of this paper is to introduce prison administrators and staff to an accumulated body of knowledge regarding correctional practice to enhance their management of their prisons" (p.1). Sections comprising this discussion paper are: introduction -- transition from prison to the community, effective correctional practice, overview of prison research findings for prison classification, and summary; an overview of prison classification and risk assessment - correctional programming, guidelines, staff, and impact; and prison realities -- organizational culture and priorities, staff...
Using Research to Promote Public Safety: A Prosecutor's Primer on Evidence-Based Practice
This paper “focus[es] primarily on those [evidence-based] intervention principles most likely to be encountered by the prosecution” (p.2). Sections following an executive summary are: introduction; prosecutorial duty; innovative research; evidence-based principles in prosecutorial practice and leadership; the need for systemic change; and conclusion.
Effective Clinical Practices in Treating Clients in the Criminal Justice System
This monograph is “intended to strengthen and improve the dissemination of evidence-based rehabilitative technologies for offenders, within the multidisciplinary context of correctional treatment” (p.x). Sections of this document include: executive summary; introduction - effective clinical practices and the critical need for collaboration; what evidence-based practice (EBP) is; overarching principles of effective correctional treatment; common therapeutic factors - what works in treatment generally; specific evidence-based modalities for criminal justice clients; and conclusion-what have we lost. There are four appendixes: confidentiality in...
Arming the Courts with Research: 10 Evidence-Based Sentencing Initiatives to Control Crime and Reduce Costs
The use of cost-effective evidence-based practices to reduce offender recidivism, crime rates, and costs is explained. Strategies covered are: establish recidivism reductions as an explicit sentencing goal; provide sufficient flexibility to consider recidivism reduction options; base sentencing decisions on risk/needs assessment; require community corrections programs to be evidence-based; integrate services and sanctions; ensure courts know about available sentencing options; encourage swift and certain responses to probation violations; use court hearings and incentives to motivate offender behavior change; and promote effective...
Jail in New York City: Evidence-Based Opportunities for Reform (2017)
To inform the development of strategies designed to reduce the use of jail in New York City without jeopardizing public safety, the current project documents and assesses decision making at key stages of criminal case processing.
How Evidence Helped Improve Criminal Justice Programming in California Counties (2016)
In this video, hear how four counties invested in evidence-based programs to reduce recidivism and increase public safety with the help of the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative.
The Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Wisconsin Adult Drug Courts: An Overview (2012)
Three purposes support this paper: (1) present data to adult drug courts that responded to the NCSC survey; (2) provide a literature review of the scientific evidence that provides the basis for the widely accepted eight evidencebased principles (especially for the risk-needs-responsivity principle (Principle 1) and the evaluation principle (Principle 8); and (3) to provide the survey itself, which although not an evaluative tool, can be used by program staff as an initial step in determining where their court stands in relation to proven principles for program effectiveness.
Program Profile: Reduced Probation Caseload in Evidence-Based Setting (Oklahoma City) (2012)
The program aims to reduce recidivism of high-risk probationers by assigning them to intensive supervision by an officer with a reduced caseload and through the use of evidence-based practices.
NIC - Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems
EBDM is a strategic and deliberate method of applying empirical knowledge and research-supported principles to justice system decisions made at the case, agency, and system level. The initiative team developed the EBDM framework, which posits that public safety outcomes will be improved when justice system stakeholders engage in truly collaborative partnerships, use research to guide their work, and work together to achieve safer communities, more efficient use of tax dollars, and fewer victims.
Iowa’s Department of Corrections Takes an Innovative, EvidenceBased Approach: Efforts targeted toward programs that reduce recidivism, improve successful re-entry into community (2018)
When departments of corrections target services to people who are incarcerated, these services can help reduce the likelihood that those individuals will engage in criminal activity when released. Too often, however, criminal justice agencies lack the information they need to know whether the programs they offer to inmates are effective. In Iowa, corrections leaders have pursued an innovative approach that allows the best available research to guide their choices.
Through its partnership with the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, the Iowa Department of Corrections conducted an inventory of its current programs, collected data on their design and capacity, and used rigorous...