About Evaluation
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Since the mid 80’s, correctional system oversight agencies have increasingly demanded that criminal justice system agencies adopt policies and practices that research has shown to produce measurable results (see Evidence-Based Practices). Evaluation acts as the foundation for results measurement by providing information about the efficiency and effectiveness of current practices. Moving from this information to improved decision-making, resource allocation, and accountability requires an effective performance management framework, but evaluation is the first step.
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Our Evaluation Services
J-SAT will work with your agency to create evaluation designs that are tailored to whatever sector or process that you would like to evaluate. Our three full-time researchers have over 40 years of combined corrections evaluation experience with J-SAT. Many of our past evaluations have been in the following areas:
Outcome Analysis—allows your agency to see which processes or treatment strategies show the greatest reductions in recidivism over time.
Instrument Validation and Reliability Testing—tests to see if an assessment system produces measurements that are consistently associated with an outcome of interest, such as criminal recidivism.
Workload Analysis—identifies discrepancies in staff workload assignments and process inefficiencies; measures actual time spent on various functions and tasks against agency expectations or practices shown to reduce recidivism.
System Flow Analysis—identifies the sequences that combine to make up agency processes and event cycles, visually represents those processes to make them easily understandable, and offers recommendations for increased system efficiency and accountability.
Quality Assurance Structure Analysis—assesses agency goals, documents current quality assurance procedures, and recommends revisions or additions to QA practices that optimize goal achievement.
Treatment Group Type & Skill Level Analysis—assesses whether treatment delivered matches treatment models that are proven to reduce recidivism rates, and coaches treatment personnel in Evidence-Based treatment methods.
Maximizing Evaluation Success
As you contact us for more information about evaluation, you may want to keep in mind the following factors that allow for efficient, reliable evaluation processes that provide effective tools for future decision-making:
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Clear definition of which process, policy, or program is to be evaluated for what purpose;
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Clear definition of evaluation scope, methodology, data collection procedures, timeline, final presentation methods, and intended agency use of findings;
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Collaboration and shared “ownership” between evaluators, policy-makers, agency staff, and other stakeholders;
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Internal management that champions the evaluation with staff and helps ensure that data collection and delivery adhere to identified standards;
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Anticipation of institutional barriers such as staff resistance, leading to strategies for overcoming these;
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Agency culture that supports ongoing learning, innovation, and adaptation;
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Consistent focus on overcoming problems rather than on assigning blame.
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