Criminal Justice Policy Model

Criminal Justice Policy Model

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Criminal Justice Policy Model

Introduction

Evaluation refers to a systematic analysis and collection of information to make judgments regarding the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of an initiative or program. There are many forms of evaluation that exist; nevertheless, the process characteristically entails contrasting program aspects as well as its influence to expectations so as to judge the program success. There are five forms for evaluation that can be used to analyze criminal justice policy system. They include effectiveness analyses, need assessment, impact evaluation, program theory assessment and process evaluation. Among the five the most appropriate method or model to enhance criminal justice policy evaluation today is the impact evaluation. This paper will focus on analyzing impact evaluation applicability in the criminal justice policy evaluation.

Summary of the Model

The impact or outcome evaluation model focuses on determining if a policy or a program developed by a policy is producing the anticipated results or it is producing any unanticipated results. It determines whether a program generates any positive change to the intended parties as it is designed to do (Weatherburn, 2009). It also checks on whether the program in implemented as anticipated, and if it contains respectable program theory. To measure the effectiveness of the outcome, the model tends to compare the behavior of individual served by the policy compared to those who have not been served (Kirchner, Przybylski, & Cardella, 1994). This demonstrates whether the policy creates negative or positive impact to the targeted population. To determine the results to evaluate, the model focuses on the policy objectives, goals, mission and theory. The evaluation therefore tends to determine how far the policy implementation results drift from the anticipated results. The model also permits the use of researches regarding the application of similar programs in the past and the results obtained to determine how much the policy application results in this case drift from what was obtain from the past. It also guide on the measures to employ to gauge the performance of the implemented policy.

Why the Selected Model most Relevant and Applicable

The outcome or impact evaluation is selected due to its high ability to determine whether the defined and implemented programs or policies in the criminal justice system bear any fruits. The model is very relevant in this case since it assist the policy makers in determining how effective their policy making system is and in deciding what adjustment should be made or measures should be considered in the future to ensure effective performance of policy based program. The model is very relevant since it help in determining function and non-functional policy based programs, making it easy for the policy makers to make adjustment to attain their goals (Rossi, Lipsey, & Freeman, 2004). It therefore plays a great role in curbing identified problems by ensuring the employment of workable solution. It also plays a great role in ensuring that the right processes are employed in the future to enhance the general policy outcome. It is therefore highly applicable in ensuring maintenance of policy programs that brings about positive changes. Impact evaluation is also applicable in ensuring that relevant adjustments are employed to the already existing policies to enhance better results.

Effectiveness of the Selected Model in Evaluating a Specific Criminal Justice Policy

Impact model can be used to demonstrate effectiveness in any criminal justice policy. This is based on the fact that the model assists in determining the variance from the actual results from the anticipated results. It also assists in determining how much the policy implementation results varies in one region from what was obtained in other regions. It can as well be used to determine how much impact or magnitude of change that the program creates to the targeted population. This means that the model can be used in any situation. One of the aspects in which the model can be effectively used is in the evaluation of the effectiveness of juvenile criminal system effectiveness in reducing crimes in the US (Rossi, Lipsey, & Freeman, 2004). The model can effectively be used to determine the change in juvenile offending behavior, before and after the application of juvenile justice system. Juvenile system has integrated prevention programs, and correction programs. The prevention program focuses on discouraging juvenile from being involved in crimes or from reoffending. The correction program focuses on ensuring that juvenile involved in crimes receive proper treatment and molding to be able to avoid committing crimes in the future or after the release. This model has therefore been effectively used in ensuring determining how successful the prevention and correction programs in the juvenile system have been in reducing crimes involvement. This includes measuring the effectiveness of various models or programs used in different regions to reduce juvenile offending. The evaluation can be used by comparing the number of young offender in a region before and after the application of prevention program. It can also be used in comparing the number of young people who reoffend after the application of a certain correction program in juvenile criminal correction process. The assessment outcome can be used to determine the effectiveness of the applied policy in fighting juvenile involvement in crimes and correction.

References

Kirchner, R. A., Przybylski, R. K., & Cardella, R. A. (1994). Criminal justice programs: Assessment and evaluation handbook series number1. Retrieved from < http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/reports/handbook1.html>

Rossi, P. H., Lipsey, M.W., & Freeman, H. E. (2004). Evaluation: A systematic approach (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Weatherburn, D. (2009). Policy and program evaluation: Recommendations for criminal justice policy analysts and advisors. Criminal and Justice Bulletin, 133, Retrieved from < http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb133.pdf >