NCJ Number
187060
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 25 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 1-46
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
August 2000
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the methodology and findings of a survey of adult and juvenile corrections and probation/paroling authorities throughout the United States to determine their involvement in research and the research topics being pursued by or of interest to these agencies.
Abstract
Non-State agencies included in the survey were the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Parole Commission, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Responses were received from 49 of the 50 States. A total of 163 questionnaires were mailed to the various correctional departments and agencies, 116 of which responded (71 percent response rate). Responding agencies were almost evenly distributed across adult corrections, probation and parole agencies, and juvenile corrections. The survey sought to identify individuals or contacts for those conducting research in corrections; determine structure and responsibilities of agency research units; determine current foci and priority of research topics; and determine the most important obstacles to research. Findings show that more than one-quarter of responding agencies reported the lack of any specified agency component to conduct or manage research activities. Among agencies that reported having a research unit, there was typically a small research staff (more than 60 percent reported staffs of five or fewer). The top three areas of responsibilities for the research units were responding to information and technical requests, conducting research on correctional issues, and evaluating program effectiveness. The most frequently reported research topics were prison populations and projections, sex offenders, and female offenders. Obstacles to research were reported to be inadequate staffing, poor data sources, general lack of resources, lack of agency priority for research, and lack of automation. Appended information on respondents and contact persons for the responding agencies