This article reports on the development and operation of a multijurisdictional collaboration of probation agencies in Arizona, in order to facilitate rational planning for and implementation of evidence-based policies and practices for reducing recidivism.
In 2002, the county Chief Adult Probation Officers, in collaboration with the Adult Probation Services Division of the Administrative Office of the State Supreme Court (AOC), adopted the use of the Offender Screening Tool (OST) as the standardized assessment tool for all 15 adult probation departments in the States. This was the starting point for the use of evidence-based practices (EBP) in adult probation across the entire State. During the next several years, changes in the Arizona Codes of Judicial Administration and local departmental policies, along with mandatory training, paved the way for all 15 adult probation departments to become certified and approved as EBP counties by the Arizona Supreme Court. This and other EBP-based systemic reforms have begun to positively impact outcomes in the county adult probation system. One section of the article addresses the role of "coaching" in this project. This involves post-instruction on-site guidance in implementing EBP. The shared vision of this ongoing project is to train officers in evidence-based tools to reduce recidivism as well as to support and learn from community corrections partners in Arizona as knowledge and skill acquisition progresses. 23 references and appended listing of the 20 domains of the "Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory"