Outcome and Impact Evaluations, Part II

In this module, we continued our exploration of outcome and impact evaluations with three excellent examples from the literature. First, Petrosino and colleagues (2000) published a fascinating piece outlining how and why resistance to evaluation tends to manifest among CJ practitioners; their findings with respect to the Scared Straight program are astonishing. Second, Olver and colleagues (2009) examined outcomes from an inpatient sex offender treatment program, with results that might surprise many. And finally, Hartley and Baldwin (2019) offer a model impact evaluation based on a state-of-the-art veteran’s treatment court program.

In this week’s discussion, the second of two on outcome/impact evaluations. reflect on the work from Mears as well as the three supplements, and address this question: What steps can be taken to increase the number and quality of impact evaluations of criminal justice policies? How would you try to bridge the divide between researchers and practitioners described by Petrosino et al.? What are the ethical responsibilities for researchers and practitioners when findings show that a program is effective? Use examples to help make your points.