Showing papers by "Christopher T. Lowenkamp published in 2005"

Increasing the effectiveness of correctional programming through the risk principle: identifying offenders for residential placement*

Abstract: Research Summary: This study analyzed data on 7,306 offenders placed in 1 of 53 community-based residential programs as part of their parole, post-release control, or probation. Offenders who successfully completed residential programming were compared with a group of offenders (n = 5801) under parole/post-release control who were not placed in residential programming. Analyses of program effectiveness were conducted, controlling for risk and a risk-by-group (treatment versus comparison) interaction term. Policy Implications: Significant and substantial differences in the effectiveness of programming were found on the basis of various risk levels. This research challenges the referral and acceptance policies and procedures of many states’ departments of corrections, local probation departments and courts, and social service agencies that provide offender services.

Explaining Police Officer Discretionary Activity

Abstract: Existing research on the activities of police officers has examined a range of police behaviors and decision processes. The present article attempts to delineate factors that influence the daily discretionary choices of officers concerning the activities they undertake on a daily basis. By empirically examining the contribution of officer and community factors on decisions to engage in a variety of typical police activities, this article provides a more complete understanding of factors that influence the work-related decisions of street-level police officers. Using systematic social observation data on both community-oriented and traditional beat officers, multivariate models are developed to explain officers’ daily activities. The findings reveal that neighborhood-level and attitude variables influenced community and traditional police officers differently. Overall, the individual-level attributes of officers did not influence activity choices of either type of officer. These findings are discussed in t...

Evaluation of ohio's reclaim funded programs, community correctional facilities, and dys facilities cost-benefit analysis supplemental report

Abstract: This report contains the results of analyses that supplement the RECLAIM evaluation conducted earlier in 2005. The RECLAIM evaluation report indicated that the RECLAIM funded programs were the appropriate types of placements for low and moderate risk youth. The effectiveness of RECLAIM programs with high and very-high risk youth was not substantiated; in fact the data indicated that higher risk youth were better served by residential placement in a DYS facility or CCF. The current analyses were designed to determine if the RECLAIM funded programs are cost-effective taking recidivism rates into account. The results of the current analyses indicated that the RECLAIM funded programs are less costly to operate and additional savings in lower recidivism rates are recognized for low and moderate risk youth. While use of the RECLAIM programs for high and very-high risk cases is still less expensive than the use of DYS or CCF, the slightly higher recidivism rates favor using more costly interventions.