Evaluating Correctional Programs

Large sums of money are spent on correctional programs, and as a result legislators, funding sources, policy makers, and the public are demanding more accountability. Rigorous evaluation is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. Programs and agencies are being asked, “Does it work?” and funding sources are not satisfied with anecdotal information and informal evaluations. Increasingly, evaluation research is becoming an essential part of a program’s operation. This paper is designed to present an overview of some of the more common methods for evaluating correctional programs, and is designed to provide practitioners with a map for addressing the question, “Is a correctional program effective?”