NCJ Number
219958
Date Published
August 2007
Length
170 pages
Annotation
This guide emphasizes the importance of program evaluation in law enforcement and assists law enforcement administrators in their management responsibilities throughout the process of evaluating a program.
Abstract
The first chapter reviews the benefits of evaluation and discusses several common myths that can prevent law enforcement agencies from conducting evaluations. Areas for evaluation within policing are suggested, and several contemporary examples of successful evaluations in U.S. police departments are presented. The second chapter presents an overview of evaluation types and designs, and it describes evaluation's place in the cycle of program implementation and improvement. It also distinguishes between process, outcome, and impact evaluation, as well as the benefits and disadvantages of several evaluation designs. Chapter 3 details the major steps in the evaluation cycle and provides practical information and guidance on conducting an internal evaluation of policing strategies. The evaluation components discussed include assessment of a program's capability of being evaluated; stakeholder involvement in the evaluation process; defining program goals and objectives; and determining the relationships among program inputs, outputs, and outcomes. Tips are offered for developing evaluation questions and selecting an appropriate design based on evaluation planning activities. Chapter 4 focuses on the management of evaluations, including management tasks during and after the evaluation. The chapter also addresses the issue of whether or not to hire an outside evaluator. The fifth chapter considers emerging topics in evaluation management, i.e., collaborative evaluation, participatory evaluation, and performance measurement. Twelve appendixes provide templates for various evaluation phases, along with checklists and sample survey questionnaires. 25 exhibits and 24 references