NCJ Number
167799
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 146-150
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the conceptual basis for the American Correctional Association's (ACA's) development of corrections performance-based standards.
Abstract
The movement toward performance-based standards in corrections is rooted in legislators' and taxpayers' expectation that corrections will achieve certain outcomes that improve the quality of life and the safety of communities. There is agreement among various correctional associations and organizations that the process for developing performance-based standards must include the definition of core values and overall mission, the definition of agency goals, and the definition of a set of performance measures that can be used to show achievement of purposes and goals. The ACA's Performance-Based Standards Project also links mission, purpose, and goals to performance measures. Thus far, ACA has developed two types of performance measures for correctional standards: process and outcome. Process measures assess whether the activities conducted are implemented as originally planned. Examples include enrollments and attendance in education or treatment activities or number of drug tests performed. These measures count activities that are performed. Outcome measures assess whether the expected result has been achieved. Examples include percentage increase in grade level, percentage of successful completion of treatment, reduction in the number of positive drug tests, or reduction in the number of rearrests. These measures assess the degree to which the end result is achieved. 6 references