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Publications
Evaluation of Florida's Faith- and Character-Based Institutions (Research Report) Author(s): Nancy G. La Vigne, Diana Brazzell, Kevonne M. Small This report summarizes findings from a process and impact evaluation of two of Florida's Faith- and Character-based Institutions (FCBIs). The FCBI model is designed to rehabilitate adult prisoners by offering a vast array of faith and self betterment programs that are delivered by community volunteers. The UI research team gathered and analyzed data from: (1) one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with facility administrators, correctional officers, program staff, chaplains, and volunteers; (2) focus groups with inmates housed in the FCBIs; (3) administrative data on FCBI and general population inmates; (4) official documents; and (5) telephone and email communications with state corrections officials.
Study Hints at Efficacy of Florida's Faith-Based Prisons (Press Release) Author(s): The Urban Institute The Florida Department of Corrections has reason to be "cautiously optimistic about the impact" of its faith- and character-based prisons on reducing criminal behavior, an Urban Institute analysis concluded.
Five Questions for John Roman (Five Questions) Author(s): John Roman John Roman, a senior research associate in UI's Justice Policy Center, focuses on evaluating innovative criminal justice policies and programs. He discusses the rise in violent crime, effective prevention strategies, and what the candidates need to know about justice policy.
Changing Systems (Research Report) Author(s): Jeffrey A. Butts, John Roman Reclaiming Futures (RF) is an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that seeks to improve outcomes for drug-involved youth in the juvenile justice system. The Urban Institute and Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago conducted biannual surveys in each of the ten communities participating in the initiative (December 2003 to June 2006) measuring the quality of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment systems in each community. Positive and significant changes were reported in all ten communities. In several communities, most quality indicators measured by the evaluation improved significantly during the course of the initiative.
After Katrina: Washed Away? (Research Report) Author(s): Caterina Gouvis Roman, Seri Irazola, Jenny Osborne This report provides a comprehensive review of the acute and lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina on the criminal justice system of New Orleans. Using interviews with criminal justice stakeholders living and working in greater New Orleans, the authors examine the state of the criminal justice system before the storm, the impact of the storm on each branch of the system, and how those branches operate today. The final sections of the report discuss policy considerations and how lessons learned from Katrina can be applied to assist jurisdictions across the country should they be confronted with natural or man-made shocks to the systems charged with keeping residents safe.
Mapping for Community-Based Prisoner Reentry Efforts: A Guidebook for Law Enforcement and Their Partners (Document) Author(s): Nancy G. La Vigne This guidebook explores ways in which mapping can aid police responses to prisoner reentry. It addresses why and how police can take an active role in prisoner reentry efforts and how mapping can aid in those efforts. It describes strategies for engaging in data-sharing partnerships with corrections agencies, and the useful maps that can be produced. It closes with a discussion of how police agencies, in partnership with corrections, service providers, and community representatives, can use maps to better enhance public safety by reducing recidivism among released prisoners and apprehending those who do recidivate swiftly and efficiently.
Cleveland Stakeholders' Perceptions of Prisoner Reentry (Research Report) Author(s): Christy Visher, Tobi Palmer, Caterina Gouvis Roman This policy brief presents findings from interviews with stakeholders-specific persons or organizations-familiar with issues affecting individuals transitioning from prison to the community in Cleveland, Ohio. We interviewed service providers, local government officials, criminal justice practitioners, and civic leaders. The brief expands the prisoner reentry dialog to incorporate the voices of those in the community who are dedicated to improving reentry for men and women returning home. We discuss their perceptions of barriers and issues affecting successful reentry, solutions and suggested changes to policy and practice, and the role that government agencies can play in successful reentry.
Comprehensive Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking (Research Report) Author(s): Laudan Y. Aron, Janine M. Zweig, Lisa C. Newmark Many humans are trafficked across international borders for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) developed the “Services for Trafficking Victims Discretionary Grant Program - Comprehensive Services Sites.” The program provides direct services, such as legal and crisis counseling to assist victims once they are identified until they are “certified” to receive other federal benefits. Urban Institute researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with survivors and with key service providers in three evaluation sites. The in-depth interviews document victims’ service needs, their experiences using OVC-funded services, and barriers to services. They also provide a unique opportunity to listen directly to the voices of the victims.
Final Report on the Evaluation of the Judicial Oversight Demonstration (Research Report) Author(s): Adele V. Harrell, Lisa C. Newmark, Christy Visher, Jennifer Castro The Judicial Oversight Demonstration (JOD) was designed to test the feasibility and impact of a coordinated community response to intimate partner violence (IPV) that placed the courts and justice agencies in a central role. The Urban Institute conducted a detailed process and impact evaluation in three sites. The demonstration received mostly positive responses from justice system agencies, service providers, offenders, and victims. However, reductions in repeat violence did not occur in all sites. The mixed results indicate that the most effective justice system responses to IPV must include a focus on protecting victims, close monitoring of offenders, and rapid responses with penalties when violation of court-ordered conditions are detected.
Finding Work on the Outside: Results from the Returning Home Project in Chicago (Book) Author(s): Christy Visher, Vera Kachnowski As part of the multi-state Returning Home project, researchers at the Urban Institute directed interviews with 400 former prisoners before and after their release from Illinois prisons to examine their employment experiences prior to their incarceration and after their return to Chicago. Less than 30 percent were employed at six months after release and about half reported having worked at least one month since their release. Employment before prison, participation in job training during prison, strong family relationships, and an absence of health problems led to a greater likelihood of finding work after release.
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