NCJ Number
100141
Date Published
1986
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Dr. Anne Schneider outlines steps in a program evaluation and discusses performance measures appropriate for juvenile restitution programs, such as recidivism and completion rates.
Abstract
Using the private sector as an analogy, Dr. Schneider urges that a restitution program be viewed as a system with resources, components, and a product. She identifies key steps in evaluation: determining the purpose, establishing criteria or standards for comparison, understanding causal effects, obtaining and analyzing data, and using the evaluation's results. The use of outside evaluators is discussed. After reviewing the purposes of evaluation, Dr. Schneider describes specific performance measures and methods. Rearrest data is recommended as the best measure of recidivism, whil comparisons with other programs such as probation are preferred criteria. Other comparisons discussed include job sites, high risk cases, case managers, and part performance. Three research designs are explained: emperimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental or pre- and post-program comparisons. Additional performance measures explored are completion rates, amounts paid to victims, percentage of court referrals handled by the restitution program, and costs.