Topics in Community Corrections: Annual Issue 2004. Assessment Issues for Managers

摘要

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has identified the implementation of evidence-based principles as an area of primary focus, both in its assistance to state and local agencies and in its own strategic plan. Worth noting is the emphasis on implementation: using the research principles in actual field practice. Research teaches us that disciplined application of these principles- really working them consistently, day in and day outcan reduce offenders likelihood to commit new crimes. NIC is interested in the proposition that better public safety outcomes can be achieved when corrections agencies and systems strategically organize around these principles. The particular evidence-based principle that drives this transformational change is the assessment of risk. This issue of Topics in Community Corrections has been written by practitioners and researchers who are currently immersed in improving information related to offender risk. They were invited to contribute to this document because they have already been applying assessment instruments in the field, using assessment information in offender case plans, and measuring the results. NIC is taking advantage of their practical experience and years of outcome study to help clarify the risk principle and ways to make its application manageable.