Harnessing the Power of Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-236
Author(s):  
Mark H. Bergstrom ◽  
Brett A. Miller ◽  
Jordan T. Zvonkovich
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Sentencing Guidelines ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Sentencing Decisions ◽  
Risk Assessment Instrument ◽  
Support Policy

Research capacity is the basic currency of a sentencing commission, and the gold standard is data, with its capability of being transformed into meaningful information to support policy development and guide sentencing decisions. This paper investigates the science of best practices in Pennsylvania and the roles of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing in collecting, preparing, and disseminating sentencing and resentencing data; in collaborating with other agencies to integrate justice-related data; and in establishing partnerships to expand the research capacity of the Commission to use these data. The application of evidence-based practices—of harnessing the power of data to develop policy and support decision making—will be demonstrated through a discussion of four Commission projects: construction and validation of a sentence risk assessment instrument; comprehensive review of the use of criminal history in the Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines; establishment of state parole guidelines; and design of a modular population projection simulation model.

Risk Factors for Absconding Among Adult Parolees in Colorado

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (14) ◽  
pp. 4622-4641
Author(s):  
Ráchael A. Powers ◽  
Catherine Kaukinen ◽  
Norair Khachatryan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Level Of Service ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk Assessment Instrument

Studies that have examined absconding have pointed to the relevance of factors related to demographics, situational, and social characteristics, as well as criminal history variables as predictive of offenders’ decision to abscond. This study contributes to this literature by extending factors that have been explored for criminal justice outcomes such as recidivism to predict the likelihood of absconding. In particular, this study incorporates the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) risk assessment instrument and types of violations to examine their impact on the likelihood of absconding. Using a large sample of parolees from Colorado ( n = 30,181), the findings in this study indicate that the largest predictors of absconding were substance abuse problems and education. In addition, variables measuring the components of the LSI-R and specific nonabsconding parole violations moderately predict absconding. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

An Examination of Changes in LSI-R Scores Over Time: Making the Case for Needs-Based Case Management

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda D. Schlager ◽  
Daniel Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Community Corrections ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Level Of Service ◽  
Change Scores ◽  
Risk Assessment Instrument ◽  
Over Time

The Level of Service Inventory—Revised (LSI-R) is an actuarially derived risk assessment instrument with a demonstrated reputation and record of supportive research. It has shown predictive validity on several offender populations. Although a significant literature has emerged on the validity and use of the LSI-R, no research has specifically examined change scores or the dynamics of reassessment and its importance with respect to case management. Flores, Lowenkamp, Holsinger, and Latessa and Lowenkamp and Bechtel, among others, specifically identify the importance and need to examine LSI-R reassessment scores. The present study uses a sample of parolees ( N = 179) from various community corrections programs that were administered the LSI-R at two different times. Results indicate that both mean composite and subcomponent LSI-R scores statistically significantly decreased between Time 1 and Time 2. The practical, theoretical, and policy implications of these results are discussed.

Comment on “The Influence of Risk Assessment Instrument Scores on Evaluators’ Risk Opinions and Sexual Offender Containment Recommendations”

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (9) ◽  
pp. 1236-1241
Author(s):  
Christopher Lobanov-Rostovsky
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Sexual Offender ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Management Board ◽  
Risk Assessment Instrument ◽  
Potential Confounding Variable ◽  
Standards And Guidelines ◽  
And Behavior

The work of the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) has been called into question as a result of the manuscript “The Influence of Risk Assessment Instrument Scores on the Evaluators’ Risk Opinions and Sexual Offender Containment Recommendations” published in Criminal Justice and Behavior (2017). This response covers the following areas: significant nomenclature problems used to describe the Adult Standards and Guidelines, the dated nature of the SOMB citations in the manuscript, the flaws in the interpretation of the use of the 17 SOMB risk factors and the SOMB policy related to risk assessment, a potential confounding variable that may explain the results obtained, and finally the work of the SOMB to foster the use of validated risk assessment instruments and evidence-based policies and practices. The SOMB takes pride in providing up-to-date, research-supported practices for its providers and would never intentionally do otherwise, as suggested by the article.

scholarly journals MON-391 Implementation of an Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Instrument (ORAI) to Increase Referral Rates for DEXA Scanning in the Primary Care Setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eda Saatciler ◽  
Diane Gillooly ◽  
Bernard Toro ◽  
Peter Lontai
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Referral Rates ◽  
Risk Assessment Instrument ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Osteoporosis Risk

Abstract Abstract Background/Purpose: Osteoporosis (OP)was first identified and named by healthcare professionals in the 18th century. Today, OP is still the source of fractures which impair mobility, leading to sub-acute stays at rehabilitation centers. A major obstacle is that primary care providers (PCPs) fail to identify warning signs of OP, and inform patients that Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans that are one of the best procedures to assess bone health. This project addressed the issue of low rate of referrals for DEXA scans. Theoretical Framework: The Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) model was used to guide this study. Intervention: Implementation of osteoporosis risk assessment instrument. Methods (Design, Sample, Setting, Measures, Analysis): This includes pre-implementation phase, patients’ charts were reviewed; post-implementation phase, the number of people referred to have DEXA scans were analyzed; the evaluation phase, results compared to the previous data. The project focus exclusively on women and men ages 50 to 89 years in two primary care offices in New Jersey. Descriptive analyses concentrated on whether or not ORAI was the tool to increase DEXA scans. Results: The data analysis reflected that the baseline referral rates increased from 1.3 % to 42 % and patients who scored high on the risk assessment instrument have been referred more often than not. Moreover, patients who are at risk and younger than 65 years of age, risk assessment tools led to a positive referral for a DEXA scan. Those who are older than 65 years, risk assessment tools like ORAI should be given with fracture risk assessment tools. This is especially the case when dealing with men, a demographic group often overlooked in the fight against OP. Conclusions Implications: If this project is to be applied at other clinics, more and more patients would be referred, raising awareness of the medical benefits of early detection. Reasonably, covering a broader section of patients, earlier in their lives, will increase clinical income, bringing more patients to primary care offices.

Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Richard S. Frase ◽  
Julian V. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Criminal History ◽  
Sentencing Guidelines ◽  
Prison Inmates ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Racial Disproportionality ◽  
Nonviolent Offenders ◽  
Offense Severity ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Prior Record ◽  
Prison Populations

This chapter provides an overview of the book, including the following major topics: why this neglected topic is so important; the ubiquity of prior record enhancement in modern sentencing systems, and their particularly powerful roles in U.S. jurisdictions with sentencing guidelines; the wide variations in the criminal history scoring formulas used in guidelines, with respect to matters such as which prior crimes and other factors are included, the weight each receives, and the degree to which a high score increases recommended sentence severity; the unclear punishment rationales for such enhancements; and the numerous negative consequences of these enhancements— increasing the size and expense of prison populations, undermining the important goal of punishment in proportion to offense severity, increasing the need for prison beds to house property and other nonviolent offenders, generating large numbers of aging prison inmates, contributing to racial disproportionality in prison populations, and undermining offenders’ efforts to reintegrate into society.

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