NCJ Number
242647
Date Published
2013
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper examines issues associated with evaluation research and provides suggestions for evaluating and assessing correctional programs.
Abstract
The primary purpose of evaluation research is to provide policymakers with information for improving correctional program effectiveness. This paper examines the issues associated with evaluation research and provides suggestions for evaluating and assessing correctional programs. The paper begins with a brief discussion of the myths surrounding evaluation research: some programs are not suitable for evaluation, programs can be informally evaluated, comparisons can be made across dissimilar programs, and research costs too much and it results in a low payoff. This is followed by a discussion on the issues that should be taken into consideration when designing and conducting evaluation research. These issues include the political nature of the program; resources for financial and organizational support; the condition, accessibility, and accuracy of correctional data; measurement instruments available for use; the development of adequate comparison groups; and limitations of evaluation research. The author discusses the definition of effectiveness and presents several solutions for measuring correctional effectiveness. These solutions include using recidivism as an outcome measure, using performance-based measures, and measuring program quality. The final section of the paper is a discussion of how to measure the integrity of a correctional program. The author presents an overview of the Evidence-Based Correctional Program Checklist (CPC), a tool developed specifically for assessing correctional intervention programs and determining how closely the programs meet known principles of effective intervention. Tables, figures, references, and appendix