The National Institute of Corrections, an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons, recently released a publication on evidence-based practices called “Evidence-based practices in the criminal justice system: An annotated bibliography.” Coinciding with the NIC’s mission to advance effective correctional practice and public policy, this publication equips readers with knowledge of evidence-based policy and practice and links them to additional resources on the subject.
The publication provides an overview of eight principles, incorporated into all BI treatment and training programs such as Day Reporting Centers, cited as proven strategies to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. The principles include:
- Assessing offender risks and needs
- Target interventions
- Enhancing offender motivation to change
- Providing skill training and directed practice
- Increasing positive reinforcement
- Engaging ongoing community support
- Measuring relevant processes and practices
- Providing measurement feedback
In addition to these core principles, the publication discusses and provides resources on other corrections subjects including effective rehabilitation programs; appropriate caseload sizes for probation officers; the effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders; pretrial services; specialty courts; and more.