On Tuesday, October 27, 2009 in the Capitol Visitor Center the CEBCP hosted its third Congressional Briefing on "Evidence-Based Crime Policy: What We Know, What We Need to Know" More information on the presenters and presentations is provided below.
Click on the video below to watch the entire Congressional Briefing. Click on the videos below each presenter to see individual presentations. Thanks to GMU-TV for taping the event.
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| From Congressional Briefing |
BRIEFING AGENDA
Click the presentation titles for a summary of the research
Panel leader: Dr. david weisburd (2010 Stockholm Prize Winner, George Mason University)
Panel moderator: kristina rose (National Institute of Justice)
Dr. Alex piquero (University of Maryland)
Early Child Development, Risk Factors, and Crime.
Based on evidence that early antisocial behavior is a key risk factor for delinquency and crime throughout the life course, early family/parent training, among its many functions, has been advanced as an important intervention/prevention effort. The prevention of behavior problems is one of the many objectives of early family/parent training, and it comprises the main focus of this briefing. Results indicate that early family/parent training is an effective intervention for reducing behavior problems among young children. Additional evidence indicated that early family/parent training was also effective in reducing delinquency and crime in later adolescence and adulthood. Overall, the findings lend support for the continued use of early family/parent training to prevent behavior problems. Future research should detail more explicitly the causal mechanisms by which early family/parent training reduces delinquency and crime as well as higher quality designs with longer follow-ups.
Powerpoint Slides
Effects of Early Family/Parent Training Programs on Antisocial Behavior and Delinquency (published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology)
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| From Congressional Briefing |
What is Known About Mandatory Arrest for Intimate Partner Violence?
This presentation summarizes the mixed research findings on the effectiveness of mandatory arrest on reducing violence against intimate partners. It then introduces additional research aimed at uncovering the nuances between policy and intimate partner violence.
Exposure Reduction or Retaliation? The Effects of Domestic Violence Resources on Intimate-Partner Homicide (published in Law & Society Review)
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| From Congressional Briefing |
Dr. JAMES WILLIS(George Mason University)
Enhancing Police Legitimacy Through the Integration of Compstat and Community Policing
Over the last quarter of a century or so, Compstat and community policing have emerged as powerful engines of police reform in the United States. Recent research suggests that these reforms operate largely independently—each having little effect on the other—suggesting possibilities for their integration. Given that public expectations about the processes of policing is a more powerful source of legitimacy than outcomes, such as reducing crime and disorder, how could these reforms be combined in ways that are more responsive and acceptable to local communities than what is currently on offer? Since citizens who believe that the police are attentive and respectful to their needs are more likely to support police authority and participate in crime prevention programs, integrating these reforms could result in fairer and more effective policing.
Powerpoint Slides
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| From Congressional Briefing |
Dr. christopher koper (Police Executive Research Forum)
Police Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence: What We Know About Their Use and Effectiveness
Strategies to reduce gun violence include a wide range of efforts to interrupt the illegal supply of guns, deter gun possession, reduce gun carrying in public places, toughen responses to illegal gun use, reduce demand for firearms, promote responsible ownership of guns, and address community conditions that foster gun crime. Law enforcement agencies are integral in all of these domains. In addition to investigating violent gun crimes after the fact, police can also use a variety of proactive strategies to reduce gun crime. In general, little is known about the extent or effectiveness of many such efforts. However, growing evidence suggests that efforts targeted on high risk places, behaviors, and actors are effective, particularly when conducted in the context of multi-agency problem-solving efforts. Partnerships with federal agencies have also become increasingly important to state and local efforts to reduce gun crime.
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| From Congressional Briefing |
Dr. Linda merola (George Mason University)
Prospects for Evidence-Based Court Policy
The social scientific study of courts and legal processes has become a rapidly advancing field. This is partially due to a growing recognition of the importance of understanding the impact of law and the operation of courts in both the delivery of justice and in crime prevention. Yet, even with increases in scholarly activity in the field of law and society, significant areas of court policy, practice, and management remain that are not currently supported by a substantial evidence base. In fact, while reliance upon evidence-based policy in other areas of criminal justice has expanded significantly, evidence-based court policy, practice, and management are discussed infrequently or implemented only with respect to a limited range of issues. This presentation will explore the potential that scientific research may improve court processes, highlighting court legitimacy, crime prevention, and effective relationships among criminal justice actors as goals which may be furthered by this research.
Dr. David B. Wilson (George Mason University)
Lessons Learned about Reducing Recidivism from Research on Correctional and Juvenile Delinquency Programs
Numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses of research evidence on the effects of correctional programs have consistently shown that sanctions and supervision are either ineffective or marginally effective at reducing future offending. Rehabilitation programs
however, tend to produce positive and meaningful effects. Unfortunately, the types or programs in wide use do not incorporate the elements and principles found to be effective.
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| From Congressional Briefing |
DR. Faye taxman (George Mason University; Director, Advancing Correctional Excellence)
Treatment, Supervision, and Crime Control
Offenders overall have more serious physical and mental health disorders than the general population. While medical care is constitutionally required while the offender is incarcerated, the same protections do not apply in the community. Addressing the risk factors of offenders is more likely to improve offender outcomes. Effective community based strategies are available to improve the health of the person, as well as improve health and safety outcomes. Correctional agencies are challenged to use the best strategies to achieve these outcomes including the placement of offenders in appropriate treatment and control services based on the risk level of the person. Further strategies to improve outcomes are those that involve positive reinforcers. These techniques are relevant to both judicial and correctional agencies. To achieve the best ends it will be necessary to improve availability of services to over a third of the offenders in need of services.
Powerpoint Slides
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| From Congressional Briefing |
DR. todd Clear (John Jay College, Past President of the American Society of Criminology)
"Justice Reinvestment" as a Strategy to Reduce the Problematic Effects of Concentrated Incarceration
There is a growing body of research on the effects of incarceration on the impoverished, largely minority communities (and neighborhoods) within which it is concentrated. This research documents a range of problematic effects on children, families, health, and economics of those communities. The implication is that new strategies of "justice reinvestment" are potentially important ways to ameliorate problematic effects of concentrated levels of incarceration in impoverished places.
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| From Congressional Briefing |