NICIC.gov: Evidence-Based Practices

Evidence-Based Practices

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) historically comes from the medical field as a method to utilize clinical research findings to improve medical decision making and lower risk.

In corrections, Evidence-Based Practice is the breadth of research and knowledge around processes and tools which can improve correctional outcomes, such as reduced recidivism. Tools and best practices are provided with a focus on both decision making and implementation.

Evidence-Based Decision Making
Information on NIC's initiative "A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Justice Systems."
Reducing Offender Risk
Learn how agencies can reduce offender risk and recidivism by using evidence-based policies and practices (EBP).
Box Set: Evidence-Based Principles for Reducing Offender Risk
A set of documents for judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and corrections practitioners that address evidence-based principles for reducing offender risk.
Norval Morris Project
Information and updates on activies related to the Norval Morris research project.

Date	Title	Type
2010	A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). Center for Effective Public Policy (Philadelphia, PA); Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) (Washington, DC); Justice Management Institute (JMI) (Denver, CO); The Carey Group (Silver Spring, MD). This report is essential reading for individuals wanting to achieve "measurable reductions of pretrial misconduct and post-conviction reoffending" (p.6). Eight sections follow an introduction (a new paradigm for the justice system): underlying premises; the key decision points, decision makers, and stakeholders in the criminal justice system; examining justice system decision making through the lens of harm reduction; the principles underlying the framework; applying evidence-based principles to... Read More	68 p.
2011	Return on Investment: Evidence-Based Options to Improve Statewide Outcomes--July 2011 Update By Aos, Steve; Lee, Stephanie; Drake, Elizabeth; Pennucci, Annie; Klima, Tali; Miller, Marna; Anderson, Laurie; Mayfield, Jim; Burley, Mason. Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Olympia, WA). An overview is presented of findings (as of July 2011) regarding “a comprehensive list of programs and policies that improve … outcomes for children and adults in Washington and result in more cost-efficient use of public resources” (p. 1). Sections comprising this report are: summary; background; the four-step research approach that assesses what works, calculates costs and benefits and ranks options, measures the risks associated with the analysis, and estimates the impact of various option co... Read More	8 pages
2010	6 Evidence-Based Practices Proven to Lower Recidivism: Learning to Trust the Research By Hooley, Doug. CorrectionsOne.com (San Francisco, CA). If you are concerned about recidivism, this article is for you. The author explains how six integrated practices will lower your recidivism rates. These are: risk/needs assessment; individual motivators; target the appropriate intervention; rewire the brain; increase positive reinforcement; and ongoing support.... Read More	4 p.
2009	Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for Juvenile Drug Courts By Hills, Holly; Shufelt, Jennie L.; Cocozza, Joseph J.. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chicago, IL). National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (Delmar, NJ). Guidance for the implementation of evidence-based practices in juvenile drug courts is provided. Recommendations are given for screening and assessment, treatment, and outcome monitoring.... Read More	40 p.
2009	In Search of Evidence-Based Practice in Juvenile Corrections: An Evaluation of Florida’s Avon Park Youth Academy and STREET Smart Program U.S. Dept. of Justice. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (Washington, DC); U.S. Dept. of Labor. Employment and Training Administration (Washington, DC). National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Children's Research Center (Madison, WI). Results from an evaluation of the APYA (Avon Park Youth Academy) Secure Care Program, involving vocational and educational interventions, combined with the SS (STREET Smart) aftercare reentry program are presented. Sections following an executive summary include: introduction; experimental program description; experimental group profiles; control group programs; comparative costs of experimental and control group programs; design of program evaluation; post-release subject interview findings; ed... Read More	241 p.

Date

Title

Type

2010

A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems

National Institute of Corrections (Washington, DC). Center for Effective Public Policy (Philadelphia, PA); Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI) (Washington, DC); Justice Management Institute (JMI) (Denver, CO); The Carey Group (Silver Spring, MD).

This report is essential reading for individuals wanting to achieve "measurable reductions of pretrial misconduct and post-conviction reoffending" (p.6). Eight sections follow an introduction (a new paradigm for the justice system): underlying premises; the key decision points, decision makers, and stakeholders in the criminal justice system; examining justice system decision making through the lens of harm reduction; the principles underlying the framework; applying evidence-based principles to... Read More

68 p.

2011

Return on Investment: Evidence-Based Options to Improve Statewide Outcomes--July 2011 Update

By Aos, Steve; Lee, Stephanie; Drake, Elizabeth; Pennucci, Annie; Klima, Tali; Miller, Marna; Anderson, Laurie; Mayfield, Jim; Burley, Mason. Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Olympia, WA).

An overview is presented of findings (as of July 2011) regarding “a comprehensive list of programs and policies that improve … outcomes for children and adults in Washington and result in more cost-efficient use of public resources” (p. 1). Sections comprising this report are: summary; background; the four-step research approach that assesses what works, calculates costs and benefits and ranks options, measures the risks associated with the analysis, and estimates the impact of various option co... Read More

8 pages

2010

6 Evidence-Based Practices Proven to Lower Recidivism: Learning to Trust the Research

By Hooley, Doug. CorrectionsOne.com (San Francisco, CA).

If you are concerned about recidivism, this article is for you. The author explains how six integrated practices will lower your recidivism rates. These are: risk/needs assessment; individual motivators; target the appropriate intervention; rewire the brain; increase positive reinforcement; and ongoing support.... Read More

4 p.

2009

Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for Juvenile Drug Courts

By Hills, Holly; Shufelt, Jennie L.; Cocozza, Joseph J.. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chicago, IL). National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (Delmar, NJ).

Guidance for the implementation of evidence-based practices in juvenile drug courts is provided. Recommendations are given for screening and assessment, treatment, and outcome monitoring.... Read More

40 p.

2009

In Search of Evidence-Based Practice in Juvenile Corrections: An Evaluation of Florida’s Avon Park Youth Academy and STREET Smart Program

U.S. Dept. of Justice. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (Washington, DC); U.S. Dept. of Labor. Employment and Training Administration (Washington, DC). National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Children's Research Center (Madison, WI).

Results from an evaluation of the APYA (Avon Park Youth Academy) Secure Care Program, involving vocational and educational interventions, combined with the SS (STREET Smart) aftercare reentry program are presented. Sections following an executive summary include: introduction; experimental program description; experimental group profiles; control group programs; comparative costs of experimental and control group programs; design of program evaluation; post-release subject interview findings; ed... Read More

241 p.

Date	Title	Type
2013	Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rates Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). “This report summarizes the analysis of reincarceration rates for adult offenders who were released from prisons, state jails, Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities, In-Prison Therapeutic Community program, and Intermediate Sanction Facilities in fiscal years 2006 and 2007; and rearrest rates for adult offenders released from prisons and state jails in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. In addition, this report summarizes reincarceration rates for juveniles released from the Texas Youth Commissi... Read More	118 pages
2013	Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rates Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). “This report summarizes the analysis of reincarceration rates for adult offenders who were released from prisons, state jails, Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities, In-Prison Therapeutic Community program, and Intermediate Sanction Facilities in fiscal years 2006 and 2007; and rearrest rates for adult offenders released from prisons and state jails in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. In addition, this report summarizes reincarceration rates for juveniles released from the Texas Youth Commissi... Read More	118 pages
2013	Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rates Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). “This report summarizes the analysis of reincarceration rates for adult offenders who were released from prisons, state jails, Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities, In-Prison Therapeutic Community program, and Intermediate Sanction Facilities in fiscal years 2006 and 2007; and rearrest rates for adult offenders released from prisons and state jails in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. In addition, this report summarizes reincarceration rates for juveniles released from the Texas Youth Commissi... Read More	118 pages
2013	Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Projections for the changes in Texas’ adult and juvenile correctional populations are presented. Sections contained in this report are: introduction and report highlights; arrest rates in Texas; adult correctional population projections; juvenile correctional population projections; qualitative review summary; and glossary. Appendixes explain what the methodology and assumptions for each correctional population projection.... Read More	49 pages
2013	Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Projections for the changes in Texas’ adult and juvenile correctional populations are presented. Sections contained in this report are: introduction and report highlights; arrest rates in Texas; adult correctional population projections; juvenile correctional population projections; qualitative review summary; and glossary. Appendixes explain what the methodology and assumptions for each correctional population projection.... Read More	49 pages
2013	Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Projections for the changes in Texas’ adult and juvenile correctional populations are presented. Sections contained in this report are: introduction and report highlights; arrest rates in Texas; adult correctional population projections; juvenile correctional population projections; qualitative review summary; and glossary. Appendixes explain what the methodology and assumptions for each correctional population projection.... Read More	49 pages
2013	Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Projections for the changes in Texas’ adult and juvenile correctional populations are presented. Sections contained in this report are: introduction and report highlights; arrest rates in Texas; adult correctional population projections; juvenile correctional population projections; qualitative review summary; and glossary. Appendixes explain what the methodology and assumptions for each correctional population projection.... Read More	49 pages
2013	Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Projections: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2018 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Projections for the changes in Texas’ adult and juvenile correctional populations are presented. Sections contained in this report are: introduction and report highlights; arrest rates in Texas; adult correctional population projections; juvenile correctional population projections; qualitative review summary; and glossary. Appendixes explain what the methodology and assumptions for each correctional population projection.... Read More	49 pages
2013	Criminal Justice Uniform Cost Report: Fiscal Years 2010 to 2012 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Cost per day information for various adult and juvenile correctional populations is determined. Sections of this report include: introduction—reporting guidelines and highlights; Texas Department of Criminal Justice—overview, Correctional Institutions Division (state-operated facilities), Parole Division, and Community Justice Assistance Division; and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department—state services and facilities, and community juvenile justice. Appendixes provide: uniform cost project meth... Read More	56 pages
2013	Criminal Justice Uniform Cost Report: Fiscal Years 2010 to 2012 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Cost per day information for various adult and juvenile correctional populations is determined. Sections of this report include: introduction—reporting guidelines and highlights; Texas Department of Criminal Justice—overview, Correctional Institutions Division (state-operated facilities), Parole Division, and Community Justice Assistance Division; and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department—state services and facilities, and community juvenile justice. Appendixes provide: uniform cost project meth... Read More	56 pages
2013	Criminal Justice Uniform Cost Report: Fiscal Years 2010 to 2012 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Cost per day information for various adult and juvenile correctional populations is determined. Sections of this report include: introduction—reporting guidelines and highlights; Texas Department of Criminal Justice—overview, Correctional Institutions Division (state-operated facilities), Parole Division, and Community Justice Assistance Division; and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department—state services and facilities, and community juvenile justice. Appendixes provide: uniform cost project meth... Read More	56 pages
2013	Criminal Justice Uniform Cost Report: Fiscal Years 2010 to 2012 Texas Legislative Budget Board (Austin, TX). Cost per day information for various adult and juvenile correctional populations is determined. Sections of this report include: introduction—reporting guidelines and highlights; Texas Department of Criminal Justice—overview, Correctional Institutions Division (state-operated facilities), Parole Division, and Community Justice Assistance Division; and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department—state services and facilities, and community juvenile justice. Appendixes provide: uniform cost project meth... Read More	56 pages

Date

Title

Type

2013