Evaluating a Community Justice Program

Community Program: Based on the prompt mentioning Discussion Post #2, we’ll assume the program in focus is a recidivism reduction program targeting formerly incarcerated individuals. However, you can replace this with a program relevant to your community.

Mission and Population Served:

• Mission: This program aims to reduce recidivism rates among formerly incarcerated individuals by providing support services, reintegration assistance, and opportunities to address underlying factors that contribute to criminal behavior.
• Population Served: The program targets adults recently released from correctional facilities who are at high risk of re-offending.

Program Services:

• Mentorship and case management: Connecting participants with mentors who offer guidance and support during reintegration.
• Job training and placement: Equipping participants with job skills and assisting them in securing employment.
• Substance abuse treatment: Addressing addiction issues that might have contributed to criminal activity.
• Educational opportunities: Encouraging participants to pursue educational goals that can improve employment prospects and overall well-being.
• Housing assistance: Securing stable housing, a significant factor influencing recidivism.

Addressing a Community Need:

Recidivism is a significant issue with social and economic costs. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the United States, over two-thirds of released prisoners are re-arrested within three years. These repeat offenses strain the criminal justice system and create public safety concerns.

Source: https://bjs.ojp.gov/taxonomy/term/recidivism-statistics

This program addresses this need by providing formerly incarcerated individuals with the resources and support they need to successfully reintegrate into society, reducing the likelihood of re-offending and creating a safer community.

Benefits of Program Evaluation:

• Measure effectiveness: Evaluation helps determine if the program is achieving its goals of reducing recidivism and improving participants’ lives.
• Identify areas for improvement: Evaluation can pinpoint areas where the program can be strengthened to better serve its target population.
• Demonstrate program value: A well-designed evaluation can provide data to secure funding and gain community support for the program’s continuation.

Ethical Considerations in Evaluation:

• Confidentiality: Maintain the privacy of program participants and protect their personal information.
• Informed consent: Ensure participants understand the evaluation process and their right to participate or withdraw.
• Objectivity: Strive for a fair and unbiased evaluation that avoids pre-conceived notions about the program.

Initial Steps for Program Evaluation (as an External Evaluator):

1. Review program documents: Familiarize yourself with the program’s mission, goals, target population, and services offered.
2. Meet with program staff: Discuss the evaluation goals, methodology, and data collection methods.
3. Develop a data collection plan: Determine the data sources (surveys, interviews, recidivism statistics) for measuring program effectiveness.
4. Establish evaluation criteria: Define clear metrics for success, such as recidivism rates, employment outcomes, or participant satisfaction.
5. Recruit participants: Develop a plan to involve participants in the evaluation process while respecting their confidentiality.

By following these steps, you can initiate a comprehensive and ethical evaluation to assess the program’s impact and guide its future development.