Analysis of Evidence-Based Approaches
The concept of evidence-based practice has preoccupied many of the modern disciplines mostly because of its success in offering breakthroughs in areas that had traditionally defied other conventional methods of solving issues. In the criminal justice system, evidence-based approach has had invaluable benefits in coming up with corrective measures that have ensured that crime is mitigated and the rates of recidivism reduced. As noted by Latessa, (2004), states that have opted to adopt the evidence-based approach to manage their corrective systems such as the state of Oklahoma and Oregon have noticed considerable benefits in the success of the corrective services. This is an indication that evidence based practice in the criminal justice system has gained preeminence, which means that there are some benefits that this approach is offering to the systems.
Evidence-based approaches seem to have concentrated on the issues of policies that deal with administration of correctional institutions. Evidence-based practice in the criminal justice sector has concentrated on policies that deal with the administration of these sectors based on the correctional process of the incarcerated persons. The main issues that are proposed by most evidence-based practitioners are all geared towards promoting the success of the correctional facilities in deterring future criminal acts as well as recidivism of former criminals (Sandra and Davies, 2000).
However, not all issues can be address through evidence based practice. As noted by Sandra and Davies, (2000), the major setback of the evidence based practice is that it tries to bring new knowledge in areas that people think they already know how they should be managed. This becomes hard for the correctional facilities to base all core functional areas to evidence based approaches. Despite its enumerable success, evidence based practice has had little impact on punitive measures that can be more effective in the process of rehabilitating offenders.
Assessment of Evidence-Based Approaches
Evidence based approach has numerous benefits in the process of policy formulation in the criminal justice system. As noted by Latessa, (2004), evidence based approach has led to reduced recidivism since the application of the approach to people undergoing probation are trained on various measures that would discourage them from tripping back to the unwanted behavior. In his study at the Oklahoma state, Latessa, (2004), notes that the adoption of the evidence based practice by the State’s criminal justice system has had a turnaround in the rating that today, there is no prison facility that is currently rated as poor as far as the execution of the set mandate is concerned.
However, despite the benefits that have been enhanced by the use of evidence-based practice, it is faced by several constraints. As noted by Sandra and Davies, (2000), the major drawback that exists in the use of evidence based practice is the availability of evidence that will not be contested by the stakeholders. Beside the lack of consensus and congruence in regard to the quality of the evidence gathered, Latessa, (2004), further notes that people have a predisposition concerning how certain processes should be carried. For instance, people have a set mind concerning what should be effective correctional approaches just as they hold what should be the teaching approaches to their children at the school.
In conclusion, it is evident that the role of evidence-based approaches in the criminal justice system is invaluable. Evidence-based approaches should be given preeminence as they have proved that they have the ability to offer better correctional services to the offenders. The comparative study done by Latessa, (2004), concerning the success of evidence based practice in several states should be used as the benchmark to encourage the adoption of evidence based approaches in various correctional facilities.
References
Latessa, E. (2004). The Challenge of Change: Correctional Programs and Evidence- Based Practices. Criminology and Public Policy, 3, 4: 547-560.
Sandra, N. & Davies, H. (2000). Criminal Justice: Using Evidence to Reduce Crime, Bristol, UK: The Policy Press.