Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Irrational Criminal Justice Policy
- 3 A Solution for Improving Criminal Justice Policy
- 4 Needs Evaluations
- 5 Theory Evaluations
- 6 Implementation Evaluations
- 7 Outcome Evaluations and Impact Evaluations
- 8 Cost-Efficiency Evaluations
- 9 Conclusion
- Notes
- References
- Index
1 - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Irrational Criminal Justice Policy
- 3 A Solution for Improving Criminal Justice Policy
- 4 Needs Evaluations
- 5 Theory Evaluations
- 6 Implementation Evaluations
- 7 Outcome Evaluations and Impact Evaluations
- 8 Cost-Efficiency Evaluations
- 9 Conclusion
- Notes
- References
- Index
Summary
The Problem
After several decades in which an ever-wider array of new and costly policies has emerged, America's criminal justice system stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, the United States can continue to invest billions of dollars in policies that may not be needed and may not work. On the other, it can heed recent calls for increased government accountability and reliance on evidence-based strategies. The latter path holds the promise of helping to place criminal justice policy on a solid foundation that cost-effectively reduces crime, helps offenders become contributing members of society, increases justice, and assists victims and the families and communities affected by crime.
Some signs suggest that the country is pursuing accountability and evidence-based policy, and thus indicate grounds for optimism. Many states, for example, are increasingly committed to identifying and implementing “best practices” for working with offenders. Also, the very fact that the terms accountability and evidence-based policy frequently turn up in policy discussions underscores that policy makers and the public want the criminal justice system to be held to a high bar.
Even so, significant cause for alarm exists. Consider the rapid expansion of the U.S. prison population, which grew by more than 370 percent between 1980 and 2008 and far exceeded growth in the general population or in crime. This growth has generated increased costs for the correctional system, with expenditures that have increased 7.5 percent annually since 1990.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- American Criminal Justice PolicyAn Evaluation Approach to Increasing Accountability and Effectiveness, pp. 1 - 6Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010