NCJ Number
232531
Journal
Victims& Offenders Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 311-320
Date Published
October 2009
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Drawing from the field of medicine, whose use of the term "evidence-based" predates that within criminal justice, this article reexamines some of the findings and conclusions made by reviews of previously published studies of a wide variety of correctional treatment programs.
Abstract
The resurgence in evidence-based treatment programs is largely based on a number of systemic reviews of previously published studies of a wide variety of correctional treatment programs. The findings of these reviews claim to show that treatment works and should be expanded within our correctional agencies. But a closer review of such studies suggests that the possible effects of "ramping up" such programs will not have the desired effects. The policy implications of the current study are that the "treatment effects" can easily be overstated, thus leading policymakers who are not trained in analysis to make erroneous policy and funding decisions. Moreover, the overemphasis of programs versus criminal justice policy diverts our attention from the more pressing need to reduce prison and jail populations. (Published Abstract)