Victims & Offenders 

Abstract: Previous meta-analyses have identified many effective interventions for reducing the recidivism of juvenile offenders and various program factors that are associated with the best outcomes. Most of that work has been focused on only one intervention area and thus has limited scope. Notable exceptions are two relatively comprehensive meta-analyses that have identified a small number of factors or principles that appear to characterize the most effective programs. This paper presents a new analysis of data from one of those meta-analyses designed to test a broader range of intervention factors in a manner that allows identification of both the general principles and the distinct intervention types associated with the greatest reductions in recidivism. Only three factors emerged as major correlates of program effectiveness: a “therapeutic” intervention philosophy, serving high risk offenders, and quality of implementation. With other variables statistically controlled, relatively few differences wer...

Abstract: In 2006, long-term forecasts indicated that Washington faced the need to construct several new prisons in the following two decades. Since new prisons are costly, the Washington legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to project whether there are "evidence-based" options that can reduce the future need for prison beds, save money for state and local taxpayers, and contribute to lower crime rates. The institute conducted a systematic review of all research evidence that could be located to determine what works, if anything, to reduce crime. We found and analyzed 545 comparison-group evaluations of adult corrections, juvenile corrections, and prevention programs. We then estimated the benefits and costs of many of these evidence-based options and found that some evidence-based programs produce favorable returns on investment. This paper presents our findings and describes our meta-analytic and economic methods.

Abstract: Responding to the “nothing works” movement in corrections, researchers in the field of corrections have employed meta-analytic techniques since the mid-1980s to cumulate knowledge on the effectiveness of offender rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this article is to summarize the contributions of these quantitative reviews in the field of corrections with special emphasis on the validation of the principles of effective intervention in particular. Meta-analysis has facilitated the identification of “what works” within correctional treatment, including the specific criteria for optimizing effectiveness along clinically and psychologically relevant dimensions.

Abstract: This study provides one of the first assessments of bullying based on the perceptions of victimized children and their parents, teachers, and school administrators. It augments the extensive quantitative research findings already reported in the literature. The qualitative methodology privileges the “lived experience” of study participants. Interviews were conducted with children in grades 4 and 5 who self-identified as having been bullied, their parents, and educators. This study provides evidence to suggest that several factors influence individuals’ perceptions and responses to particular bullying incidents. These factors include whether the incident matches an individual's definition, whether the child “fits” expectations about how victimized children behave and present themselves, and developmental features of bullying and what is considered normal.

Abstract: Sixteen major evaluations of programs to prevent school bullying, conducted in 11 different countries, are reviewed in detail. Of these 16 evaluations, 8 produced desirable results, 2 produced mixed results, 4 produced small or negligible effects, and 2 produced undesirable results. These varying findings may reflect variations in programs, in implementation, in assessment methods, or in evaluation designs. It is concluded that high-quality evaluations are needed in the future, with randomized designs, theoretically grounded interventions, multiple measures of bullying, and attempts to disentangle the effectiveness of different program components.