NCJ Number
164257
Date Published
1996
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This report profiles the development and characteristics of a self-evaluation instrument designed to assess how well offenders do while being electronically monitored.
Abstract
In an effort to provide a vehicle for electronic monitoring (EM) host agencies to assess their electronic monitoring programs, an agency-based, self-evaluation instrument has been developed, which, if used on a routine basis, will provide data to these agencies on how well offenders do while being monitored. The evaluation instrument is designed to collect data and information about offender demographics and behaviors as well as the organizations providing monitoring services. A guidebook has also been developed that explains the process of coding information and data. So as to determine the success of an EM program, the evaluation instrument has also been designed to capture arrest/disposition data 90, 180, and 365 days subsequent to electronic monitoring termination. These longitudinal data will provide even more information on the long-term effects of a program. In addition to the evaluation instrument and the guidebook, this report also reviews the published literature on electronic monitoring, including the few reports on program effectiveness. Further, the results of a mailed questionnaire survey are provided; they show the nature and scope of agency EM programming, especially among juvenile-serving organizations. Along with descriptive information about agency-based programs, the questionnaire listed a number of variables that the literature describes as having potential importance in evaluating EM programs. Respondents were asked to rank the variables in terms of their value for evaluation as well as the ease with which data related to these variables could be collected. The results of these rankings were used in creating the evaluation instrument. Four EM agencies participated in field-testing the instrument, and the guidebook and their responses provided significant and valuable input regarding the final product. 53 references and appended evaluation instrument, evaluation guidebook, and survey questionnaire