Corrections Research

A System Wide Risk Need Assessment
Sponsor: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project will develop, test, and validate a risk/need assessment and classification system to be used at pre-sentencing, probation, intake at prison, and upon re-entry. To develop a risk/need assessment and classification system, the goals and issues of each stage of processing will be reviewed. Assessment instruments will be developed that capture information necessary for each stage of processing. The overall system will be developed to build off of previous stage assessments. Offenders at the pre-sentence stage, at prison intake, and at the post-release control stage will be randomly selected until the set number of offenders has been reached. Offenders will be assessed with the stage appropriate risk/need assessment and classification scale. Tests for reliability and validity will be conducted.

Children of Incarcerated Parents: “Breaking the Cycle”
Sponsor: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction/TANF
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

The significance of this study is that it will provide data on the effectiveness of a reentry project that aims to wrap comprehensive services around returning ex-offenders while at the same time helping them to reunite with their families. This reentry initiative is unique because of its special focus on the strengthening of families.

Classification of Women Offenders
Sponsor: National Institute of Corrections
Principal Investigators: Patricia VanVoorhis

This study seeks to construct and validate gender-responsive risk and needs assessments for women offenders. This project will also suggest policies and case management and implementation plans which follow from the research findings.

Community Corrections Centers , Parolees, and Recidivism: An Investigation into the Characteristics of Effective Reentry Programs in Pennsylvania
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Co-Principal Investigators: Edward Latessa and Christopher Lowenkamp

Recent research in corrections has demonstrated a strong link between program integrity and effectiveness. Two large studies in Ohio have indicated that the most effective programs, which reduce recidivism by 10 to20%, adhere to the principles of effective interventions. From a completely academic standpoint, this research has proven important, however the practical implications of this research have been profound and far reaching. In this document we ropose to replicate the Ohio studies in Pennsylvania . The results of such a study will: 1) provide valuable information about the effectiveness of the Community Corrections Centers and Community Contract Facilities in Pennsylvania , 2) Identify strengths and weaknesses in CCCs and CCFs, 3) provide a “blueprint” for developing more effective programs in Pennsylvania , 4) help develop a protocol for matching parolees to programming based on risk and need, and 5) will assist the state in identifying programming characteristics to be considered when making program funding decisions.

Evaluation of MIDAS Life Skills Program
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

The project provides a process and outcome evaluation of the MIDAS program being piloted at three institutions within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC).

Family Drug Treatment
Sponsor: Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project provides a process and outcome evaluation for the family treatment drug treatment court. The process evaluation components address: how closely did implementation match the plan? What types of deviation from the plan occurred? What led to the deviations? What effect did the deviations have on the planned intervention and evaluation? Who provided what services, to whom, in what context, and at what cost? The outcome evaluation addresses: what was the effect of treatment on participants? What program/contextual factors were associated with outcomes? What individual factors were associated with outcomes? How durable were the effects?

Georgia “What Works” Training
Sponsor: Georgia Department of Corrections
Principal Investigator: Patricia VanVoorhis

This project provides training to the Georgia Department of Corrections staff on a variety of topics. Some topics that will be covered are: interviewing skills, effective communication, cognitive programming, criminogenic assessment instruments and process, program evaluation, case management, program integrity and “what works” programming. This project will also offer technical assistance to the Department of Corrections when “what works” programming is implemented.

Hamilton County , Indiana Community Corrections Evaluation
Sponsor: Hamilton County , Indiana
Principal Investigator: Paula Smith

All intake, process and outcome data collected by Hamilton County , Indiana is monitored by Paula Smith and her staff. All data will be analyzed by UC and Process Evaluation, Short-Term Outcome and Long-Term Outcome reports will be provided.

Implementation of the NIC Trailer for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Sponsor: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Principal Investigator: Patricia VanVoorhis

This project plans for, and implements a gender-responsive trailer to supplement the Northpointe COMPAS. The COMPAS is being implemented in CDCR and parole sites to guide decisions regarding offender supervision and programming targeted to assessed needs. The “trailer” is a brief interview and survey designed to screen for the following risk/needs: a) mental health (history as well as symptoms of depression or psychosis); b) family support, c) family conflict; d) relationship dysfunction; and e) anger; as well as the following needs for pre-release planning: a) educational strengths; b) self-esteem; c) self-efficacy; d) employment/financial; e) adult victimization experiences; f) relationship support and conflict; g) parental involvement and h) parental stress.

Lighthouse Research Assistance
Sponsor: Lighthouse Youth Services
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project provides technical research assistance to Lighthouse Youth Services. A graduate assistant is assigned to work at Lighthouse Youth Services for 20 hours per week. The student will assist the staff on research projects, gather data, and conduct literature searches as needed.

Ohio Halfway House - ODRC
Sponsor: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project provides a follow-up evaluation of Ohio 's community based correctional facilities and halfway house programs. The primary objective of this project is to determine the factors or offender characteristics that are significantly associated with recidivism for offenders released from halfway house programs or from Community-Based Correctional Facilities in calendar year 2006. Further, the project also focuses on the impact of rehabilitation programs offered at the various halfway houses or Community-Based Correctional sites on the behavior of offenders (i.e., recidivism), as well as identify program characteristics that appear to affect the likelihood of recidivism.

Outcome and Process Evaluation of Juvenile Drug Courts
Sponsor: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project adds to the existing literature by providing a national multi-site outcome and process study of selected juvenile drug courts from across the country. The project assesses the relative effect of each court as well as their combined effectiveness in reaching the overall goal of reducing recidivism and improving youth's social conditions. It will also identify the characteristics of both the youth and programs most associated with successful outcomes.

Maintaining Prison Order
Sponsor: National Science Foundation and National Institute of Justice
Principal Investigator: John Wooldredge and Benjamin Steiner

This study is designed to model the prevalence and incidence of both self-reported and officially detected misconduct by inmates, and to examine the effects of official processing and sanctioning of misconduct on (a) inmate perceptions of fairness in treatment and of legal authority, and (b) the prevalence and incidence of subsequent misconduct by inmates. These processes would be examined within and across all correctional facilities for adult males and adult females in Ohio.

Talbert House Research Assistance
Sponsor: Talbert House
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa

This project provides technical research assistance to Talbert House. Two graduate assistants are assigned to work at Talbert House for 20 hours per week. The students will assist the staff on research projects, gather data, and conduct literature searches as needed.

Talbert House - SAMI Evaluation
Sponsor: Talbert House
Principal Investigator: Edward Latessa and Paula Smith

The Center for Criminal Justice Research at the University of Cincinnati proposes to evaluate the fidelity and effectiveness of the SAMI Case Management Program operated by Talbert House. This project will include a process and outcome evaluation in order to address two specific goals: To assess the SAMI program to determine its adherence to best practices and evidence based programming. To determine the effects of the SAMI program on reducing substance abuse and improving the mental health of its clientele.

Policing/Crime Prevention Research

Arizona Traffic Stop Data Analysis
Sponsor: Arizona Department of Public Safety
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel

This research works collaboratively with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to implement a number of methodologies, each designed to provide information that will inform and promote policies and training for equitable policing practices.

Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV)
Sponsor: CIty of Cincinnati, Ohio
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel and John Eck

The goal of CIRV is to unite community members, service providers, and law enforcement in a coordinated partnership to keep young men from shooting each other. It promises two results: 1) a reversal of the upward trend in homicides and firearm injuries; and 2) fewer homicides and gun shot injuries than in 2005 and a declining trend promising even lower levels. At the completion of the two year CIRV effort, Cincinnati will be on track to become the safest city in the Midwest . It can only achieve these objectives if all the organization participating in CIRV do their parts well. CIRV is based on the work of David Kennedy and adapted to the needs of Cincinnati .

Cincinnati Uptown Consortium Evaluation
Sponsor: Cincinnati Uptown Consortium
Principal Investigator: John Eck

The Uptown Consortium ( www.uptownconsortium.org ) is a non-profit community development corporation dedicated to the human, social, economic and physical improvement of Uptown Cincinnati. Uptown Cincinnati is located just north of downtown and includes the neighborhoods of Avondale, Clifton , Clifton Heights , Corryville, Fairview , Mt. Auburn and University Heights .

This contract provides consulting services for the analysis of crime in Uptown Cincinnati beginning in Calendar Year 2006 and continuing over a 3-year period. The goal of these services is to develop and track the effectiveness of Consortium programming and resource allocation in the areas of Public Safety and Crime in the Uptown neighborhoods. The project also seeks to determine the relationship between crime in the Uptown neighborhoods and crime in Cincinnati .

Crime Analysis for the Cincinnati Police Department
Sponsor: CIty of Cincinnati, Ohio
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel

This project focuses on assisting the current Cincinnati Police Department crime analysts on data analysis, identification of crime problems, and reporting of relevant information to their commanders. The University of Cincinnati Policing Institute (UCPI) provides one individual to assist and train the current crime analysts on a variety of tasks, including but not limited: data manipulation for analysis, identification of crime problems, spatial and temporal patterning of criminal events, identification of repeat offenders, locations, and crime types, and effective information sharing with District personnel.

Evaluation of Cincinnati CIRV
Sponsor: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel

The primary purpose of this project is to provide a "what works" guide for Ohio communities seeking to implement similar strategies. This project will engage other Ohio jurisdictions to inform them about the violence reduction initiative so that they can better design and implement their own strategies.

Evaluation of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Vehicle Integration Technology Demonstration Project
Sponsor: Ohio State Highway Patrol
Principal Investigator: James Frank and Lawrence Travis

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) will equip ten police vehicles with technology that centralizes control and command of after-market law enforcement equipment and better organizes the cockpit of the vehicle. The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to compare the new equipment and vehicle cockpit configuration with the traditional patrol vehicle to identify strengths and weaknesses of the new configuration and equipment. The evaluation will examine issues related to installation, officer efficiency, officer safety, and provide an overall cost/benefit analysis regarding the use of this technology.

Hiring Quality Officers
Sponsor: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
Principal Investigator: James Frank

The purpose of the present study is to identify department-level policies and procedures that facilitate the selection of quality personnel. Through the identification of these predictors of quality officers the intent is to increase the likelihood that persons hired will be successful. In other words, these offices will not accumulate complaints, will secure commendations and be able to handle the demands of law enforcement. At the same time, the analysis will identify those officers likely to create problems for the agency in terms of complaints, turnover and costs associated with the hiring and training of replacement officers.

Nebraska State Patrol Vehicle Stops
Sponsor: Nebraska State Patrol
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel

This project assesses why officers engage in searches and which suspicion cues are the most accurate predictors of criminal behavior. The research design includes two components to identify the “best practices” of officers in search activity during traffic stops: 1) Examination of the decision to search and 2) Examination of search success rates.

Project On Police-Citizen Contacts
Sponsor: Pennsylvania State Police
Principal Investigator: Robin Engel

This research collects and analyzes police-citizen contact data. The data include three components: 1) the collection, scanning, and cleaning of data collected on the Contact Data Report by Troopers during all member-initiated traffic stops; 2) analyses comparing traffic stop data to appropriate benchmarks at county and municipality levels; and 3) analyses of post-stop outcomes at Area, Troop, Station, and Officer levels.

Situational and Contextual Factors in the Use of Force
Sponsor: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services
Co-Principal Investigators: Robin Engel

This project examines the use of Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) technology using data collected by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP). The purpose of this research is to assist law enforcement personnel to make informed decisions regarding the use of less-lethal technology. As one of the first state law enforcement agencies in the nation to adopt the widespread use of EMD technology, OSHP has significant experience to share with the law enforcement community regarding the use of less-lethal technologies. Since 2003, the OSHP has engaged in over 400 operational deployments of EMD devices, with data collected on each use. The primary research question explored here is: What situational and contextual factors are associated with the use of EMD technology during Response to Resistance (RTR) incidents compared to other use of force alternatives?

Situational Aspects of Crime
Sponsor: National Institute of Justice
Co-Principal Investigators: John Eck and Pam Wilcox

This examines specific types of places -- apartments and alcohol service establishments (e.g., bars and restaurants) -- with high and low levels of violent crime, using a case-control methodology. Site observations and owner interviews will be used to determine place-based differences that increase the risk of violent crime. In addition, neighborhood context will be explored by examining the physical and social characteristics (e.g., street patterns, land use and census information) of the surrounding neighborhoods. Multilevel analyses will examine how these place and neighborhood contextual factors work together to produce violent places. The results will have direct application to situational crime prevention, problem-oriented policing and community crime prevention efforts.