NCJ Number
232524
Journal
Victims & Offenders Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2009 Pages: 197-213
Date Published
April 2009
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines why many correctional agencies are ineffective in their provision of services in the context of ineffective baseball management practices.
Abstract
Michael Lewis's book, Moneyball, documents the effective use of evidence-based practices by Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics. Lewis shows how Beane's reliance on theoretically relevant statistics and on a scientific approach to baseball allowed him to achieve winning seasons despite being burdened by severe budget constraints. His approach spurred much antagonism in the baseball community because it challenged many long-standing, but ultimately unsupported, practices. In this context, Moneyball provides a useful conduit through which to assess why many correctional agencies are ineffective in the services they provide. In fact, the points of comparison between baseball and correctional practices are striking and warrant careful illumination. Toward this end, the authors specify eight lessons that corrections can learn from Moneyball and evidence-based baseball. (Published Abstract)