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Fighting America's Highest Incarceration Rates With Offender Programming: Process Evaluation Implications From the Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Reentry Court.

NCJ Number
251723
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2017 Pages: 574-588
Author(s)
J. M. Miller; David N. Khey
Date Published
September 2017
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article reports process evaluation findings for the Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Reentry Court program, a joint SAMHSA/BJA-sponsored multiphase programming intervention for high-risk/high-need offenders featuring job readiness training in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola and transition services during reentry, including program engagement, job placement, and treatment services continuation in the community under strict judicial supervision.
Abstract
Reentry programs, when adequately funded and delivered with fidelity, can render recidivism reduction and other positive outcomes such as abstinence and employment stability. Findings of the current study relate the evidence-based nature and quality of services delivery to date, as well as fidelity demonstrated across major programmatic domains. Program improvement opportunities, outcome evaluation implications, and performance measures signaling early success center discussion around vanguard elements of the court and evaluation design, respectively. Research procedures entailed 1) observation of court appearances, treatment team meetings, educational activities, and counseling sessions; 2) review of all program participant case files enabling progress tracking; and 3) in-depth and focus group interviews with program stakeholders, both at Angola and post-release in community settings. (Publisher abstract modified)