Lighting the way. crime and justice institute. improving corrections policies and practices. an integrated model of. corrections founded on

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1 Lighting the way improving corrections policies and practices an integrated model of corrections founded on evidence based practices crime and justice institute a division of Community Resources for Justice, Inc.

2 FACT In collaboration with the National Institute of Corrections, CJI spearheaded the initial development of the integrated model of corrections founded on evidence-based practices.

3 For policy makers and corrections practitioners across the country, the In light of the facts CJI integrated model of evidence-based corrections is helping institutionalize organizational development and collaboration to Improving on improvement The CJI integrated model of corrections is at work improving corrections practices in states and systems across the country. Based on verifiable, evidence-based practices, the CJI model emphasizes justice and accountability equally, balancing fairness and responsibility. Working with stakeholders in states and communities from coast to coast, CJI helps improve corrections policies and practices using research and proven methods. implement strategies and practices proven to reduce offender risk and enhance public safety.

4 FOCUSED ON improvement FACT CJI s integrated model is at work improving corrections policy at the state level and practices in community and state systems coast to coast.

5 Reducing risk though organizational development, collaboration, and evidence-based practices Successful implementation of evidence-based corrections practices is best achieved when the effort is integrated with organizational development and collaboration. Many organizations want to use evidence-based practices in their supervision practices and program design. Some have spent time on organizational development initiatives and collaborations. Few, however, have focused their attention concurrently on these three areas. CJI merges these three distinct areas into a focused, integrated model. Alignment with principles and values Evidence based practices Reduce recidivism Building policy and service delivery collaboratively Evidence-based practices Evidence-based practices are corrections practices shown through research and practical application to help improve public safety and reduce re-offending. CJI continuously monitors, analyzes, and publishes findings on practices that are working in corrections systems nationwide. Organizational development Continuous and ongoing organizational development is essential to improving corrections practices. From strategic planning and management training to facilitation and data collection practices, CJI helps partner organizations maximize resources, use data to drive decisions, and implement systems essential to the application of evidence-based practices. Collaboration Organizational development Interdependency Collaboration EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES in corrections is one prong of the three- pronged model developed by CJI and the National Institute of Corrections. The other prongs are organizational development and collaboration. These three components working in concert represent a powerful new model for reducing crime and increasing public safety. We are experienced in bringing together and working with corrections agencies, community stakeholders, policy makers, state legislators, and others in the corrections community. We model a collaborative approach that emphasizes communication among all affected parties.

6 The case for EVIDENCE-BASED improvement

7 Evidence-based practices integrate research into policy and practices that help corrections systems hold offenders accountable to victims and prepare them to become law abiding and productive citizens. Engage on-going support in community Increase positive reinforcement Science into practice Measurement feedback Skill train with directed practice Target intervention Measure relevant practices The CJI integrated model of corrections uses research and data analysis to identify practices proven to enhance the success with which policymakers and practitioners develop and refine corrections systems from legislative initiatives to onsite practices. CJI experts work directly with stakeholders to identify practices in need of improvement and then collaborate in their implementation. The key to the success of this approach is continuous pursuit of researchbased practices. Data collection, analysis, and dissemination of new research are the ongoing work of CJI. As new practices are identified the integrated model adapts, and so can corrections practices. Advantages of evidence > Incorporates latest research > Provides proven implementation strategies > Has measurement and assessment built in > Can evolve as practices improve > Facilitates accountability and reduces repeat crime Enhance intrinsic motivation Risk/need assess actuarial risk practices and principles CJI has identified eight practices and principles of corrections that are proven to reduce offender risk and enhance public safety. We help policy makers and corrections systems officials lay the groundwork for and implement these practices. FACT CJI is consulting with diverse state and local agencies to expand data collection systems and improve decision-making based on the best information.

8 JUSTICE in PRACTICE

9 CJI integrated model: eight evidence-based practices Evidence-based practices help criminal justice practitioners determine who to focus limited resources on, what sanctions and services to impose, how to implement appropriate interventions, when to implement them, and why they work. With well over two million individuals incarcerated in our prisons and jails, current correctional policy must be reformed. Evidence-based research and tools can Policy makers and practitioners face increasing prison populations and skyrocketing corrections budgets with marginal investment returns. At the same time, criminal justice researchers have been identifying intervention strategies that, when applied to a variety of offender populations, reliably produce sustained reductions in risk and subsequent crime. effectuate positive criminal justice change. Jennifer A. Fahey, esq., cji Such strategies are referred to as evidence-based practices and require application of specific principles to determine the most effective supervision, services, and sanctions for each individual offender. These practices help protect public safety by reducing recidivism and holding offenders accountable through development of appropriate interventions. Through strategic use of limited resources and prevention of new crimes, they control corrections costs.

10 CJI integrated model: eight evidence-based practices 1. Assess offender risk and need Recidivism: the Big Six risk factors > Low self-control, especially impulsive behavior > Anti-social personality, including callousness, lack of empathy > Anti-social values, such as disassociation from law-abiding community > Criminal peers > Substance abuse > Dysfunctional family Sound assessment that identifies offenders risk factors is the proven cornerstone of effective supervision. If risks and needs are not accurately identified and prioritized, appropriate interventions and services cannot be delivered. Properly identified, low level offenders unlikely to commit new crimes can be diverted from prosecution or given minimal supervision. In fact, imposing inordinate sanctions on low risk offenders can disrupt employment, family ties, and community interactions, any one of which increases risk. On the other hand, extremely high-risk offenders are so enmeshed in a criminal subculture that there is little hope of rehabilitation, and limited resources are best used on supervision rather than treatment with this type of offender. In between, moderate to serious offenders, while most likely to reoffend if appropriate interventions are not imposed, are not such an extreme risk that intervention is futile. This is the category upon which correctional programming is most cost-effectively focused. 2. Enhance offender motivation to change Change that comes from within is real change. Using motivational interviewing techniques instead of direct persuasion or nondirective counseling has been shown to help build intrinsic motivation in offenders, which is instrumental in initiating and maintaining behavior change. Behavioral change is not an easy undertaking, and self-motivation is the essential driver. Research indicates that helping an offender tap innate strengths can be accomplished through positive interpersonal interactions. Rather than order or direct an offender to change, which can cause resistance or ambivalence, motivational interviewing uses strategies such as reflective listening and open ended questioning. It elicits self-motivating statements, affirms positive behaviors, and models pro-social behavior, among other things.

11 3. Target higher risk offenders and appropriate interventions Too often, corrections practices focus on solving the wrong problems. While high-risk offenders have the greater need for pro-social support, remediation, and skill building, resources are not allocated accordingly. Research shows that, while resources directed toward higher-risk offenders result in greater public safety, resources directed toward lower-risk offenders produce little positive effect on risk. 4. Train offenders in useful skills using directed practice FACT Higher risk offenders require 40 to 70 percent of their free time structured with delineated routine and appropriate services during the first three to nine months of post-release supervision. Cognitive behavioral treatment, an approach that aims to influence dysfunctional emotions, thoughts, and attitudes, employs methods that research shows can help offenders learn essential skills and positively change behavior. In recent years cognitive behavioral approaches have become more prevalent in correctional settings. Programs are designed to teach offenders cognitive skills that will reduce criminal behaviors. The objective is typically to identify and monitor thoughts, assumptions, beliefs and behaviors that are related to and accompanied by debilitating negative emotions and to identify those which are dysfunctional, inaccurate, or simply unhelpful, and then to replace or transcend them with more realistic and useful ones. This approach has proved effective at changing offender behavior and reducing risk. FACT Research shows that positive behavior changes come more readily when positive reinforcements outnumber negative.

12 CJI integrated model: eight evidence-based practices FACT As of 2008, more than one in every 100 adults in the United States was behind bars. FACT Ninety-five percent of the incarcerated population is eventually released, and approximately two-thirds of those commit new crimes within three years. 5. Increase positive reinforcement When learning new skills and behaviors, people respond positively to positive reinforcement. Even used sporadically, positive reinforcement, unlike negative, can be effective. This is equally true for offenders as for any learner. With more positive treatment comes openness, and offenders may react inappropriately to new demands for accountability. However, faced with consistent and clear rules that are enforced with predictable and graduated sanctions, research shows that more offenders comply in the direction of most rewards and least punishment. Of course, positive reinforcement should never undermine, or be done at the expense of, administering appropriate responses for negative and unacceptable behavior. 6. Engage ongoing support in the community Realigning offenders with pro-social support systems in their communities is critical for sustained behavior change. Attitudes and behaviors are strongly reinforced in one s daily living environment. Without pro-social reinforcement in this setting, the chances of long-term positive effects are diminished. Research supports the benefits of community programs, religious activities, and restorative justice initiatives geared towards improving bonds and ties to pro-social community members.

13 7. Measure relevant practices All good research is based on measurement. In an evidence-based system of integrated corrections, the ability to measure the outcomes of practices is crucial. And, it is equally important to measure offender and staff performance. Agencies must routinely assess offender change in cognitive and skill development and evaluate offender recidivism if services are to remain effective. Agencies must also measure staff performance in order to achieve greater fidelity or adherence to program design, service delivery principles, and outcomes. FACT Research shows that intensive correctional interventions for low-level offenders can actually increase their rate of recidivism. 8. Provide measurement feedback Providing feedback increases accountability and has been associated with enhanced motivation for change. Providing progress feedback to offenders results in greater motivation, lower treatment attrition, and improved outcomes. Providing feedback to staff helps maintain integrity to agency mission, improve outcomes, and focus on the goal of corrections improvement. However, many corrections operations lack the structural elements critical to completing the feedback loop and providing input that can lead to improved policies and practices. This crucial element in the CJI integrated model depends on organizational development aimed at improving public safety and reducing offender risk. FACT We spend $60 billion annually on the largest corrections industrial complex in the world. (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2002)

14 Real-World EBP: Keys to success Every agency is unique, and each creates its own blueprint for constructing an evidencebased organization. Our experience has shown us, though, that certain essential elements provide a strong foundation on which to build effective, efficient corrections systems, and ultimately to improve public safety. Elyse Clawson executive director, cji Each corrections system follows its own path to becoming evidencebased, but those embarking on the journey can benefit from those who have gone before. Based on CJI s experience around the country, these elements offer the keys to success. > give your organization a physical. Assessing your organization s current practices and readiness for change are essential first steps. Assessment can range from informal focus groups to formal organizational surveys. The more objective, the better. > create a strategic plan. A plan offers many benefits. It conveys a long-term vision for the change, sets goals and plans for achieving them, and establishes responsibility. It is the map for implementation. > build the capacity of leaders at all levels. Leading an organization through change is no small task, and all supervisors, from the agency head to the front line, need to be prepared. Investment in training, development, and preparation go a long way. > align all business practices. Evidence-based improvement is not a project; it s a way of doing business. Budgets, human resources practices, policies and procedures, training, and other business practices must align with the evidence in order to sustain change. > develop a continuum to address risk, need, and responsivity. This is the core of evidence-based practice. An agency that is conducting assessments, developing case plans, providing targeted treatment and supervision, and responding appropriately to violations is on a path to reducing re-offending. > use data to drive decisions. Evidence-based practice is about doing what works. Ongoing measurement to determine the fidelity to research and the quality of services will ensure that resources are being used effectively. > communicate, communicate, communicate. Throughout implementation, staff and stakeholders require regular education and updates on the process. Multiple modes of delivery increase exposure.

15 CJI: SHEDDING NEW LIGHT A division of Community Resources for Justice, Inc., CJI is improving public safety and human service delivery nationwide with our creative, collaborative approaches to pressing and complex public safety problems. Experienced with broad groups of community and agency stakeholders, we are dedicated to helping make the public safety system more fair, results-driven, and cost-effective. We help policymakers and practitioners translate the latest and best research in practices proven to be effective. Criminal justice researchers and practitioners in the fields of juvenile justice, human services, and corrections, our expertise also includes coordinating data collection and analysis, as well as conducting outcome and process evaluations. Contact us CJI works with policy makers and corrections practitioners throughout the country. Let us show you how our integrated model of corrections based on evidence-based practices can shed new light on your efforts to improve criminal justice. elyse clawson executive director, cji phone (503) eclawson@crjustice.org phone (617) fax (617) cji@crjustice.org website Lighting the Way: Improving Corrections Policies and Practices, Crime and Justice Institute at Community Resources for Justice, Inc., Boston, MA, 2009,

16 ABout crj and CJI CRJ is home to the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI), which offers a team of experts who provide nonpartisan consulting, policy analysis, and research services to improve public safety in communities throughout the country. CJI develops and promotes evidence based practices which inform practitioners and policymakers, including corrections officials, police, courts, and political and community leaders to assist them in making criminal and juvenile justice systems more efficient and cost-effective to promote accountability for achieving better results. With a reputation built over many decades for innovative thinking, unbiased issue analysis, and effective policy advocacy, CJI s strength lies in our ability to bridge the gap between research and practice in public institutions and communities, and to provide evidence-based, resultsdriven recommendations. With our creative, collaborative approaches to today s most pressing and complex social and public safety problems, CJI is improving public safety and human service delivery nationwide and in Massachusetts. At Community Resources for Justice, Inc. we believe that society wins when all people are given the support and tools to lead responsible, productive, and dignified lives. Whether transitioning inmates back into mainstream society, diverting troubled youth away from crime and towards productive and fulfilling lives, or providing those with developmental disabilities with a chance to grow and flourish in the community, Community Resources for Justice, Inc. welcomes and fosters change. Our research and consulting services advance evidence-based practices that inform systems-level change while our community-based programs promote public safety and individual growth for some of society s most challenged individuals through structured independent living. Guided by excellence, creativity, and compassion, we have strengthened individuals, families, and communities for over 100 years. We are Community Resources for Justice, Inc. a division of Community Resources for Justice, Inc. Crime and Justice Institute 355 Boylston Street Boston, MA phone (617) fax (617) cji@crjustice.org website The Crime and Justice Institute at Community Resources for Justice