Post on 29-Dec-2015
Gary HillGaryhill@cega.com
The Czech Institute of Criminology and Social Prevention
Prague, Czech – 16-17 September 2010
Use of Evidence Based Practices
or
Why the work of organizations such as the Institute of Criminology and Social Prevention is important in today’s era of limited budgets and high incarceration rates.
Three ExamplesTreatment of sex offendersTreatment programs and long sentencesConfinement of terrorist suspects and prisoners
Use of Evidence Based Practices
• What are EBP’s?– The Integration of the best available research with
clinical expertise in the context of client characteristics, culture, and preferences.
– American Psychological Association (2006).
– Within the EBP trinity, research stands as the primary source of evidence
The EBP Trinity
Research
Client Characteristics, Culture, and PreferencesClinical Expertise
Use of Evidence Based Practices
• Why use EBP’s?– EBP’s should increase the efficacy, efficiency, and
applicability of mental health services provided to clients and/or client groups.
– With sex offenders, the EBP’s should result in lower recidivism rates, fewer victims of sexual abuse/violence, and more efficient use of state resources.
Sex Offender Treatment Research
• Does Treatment Work with Sex Offenders?– Research is now consistently demonstrating lower
recidivism rates with treated sex offenders compared to untreated sex offenders (Hanson, Burgon, Helmus, & Hodgson, 2009).
– Sex offenders that do not complete treatment have higher recidivism rates (Losel & Schmucker, 2005; Hanson et. al., 2002).
Sex Offender Community Supervision Research
• 2005 (Wilson et. al.) study reported a 70% lower recidivism rate than a matched group that did not participate in COSA
• 2008 (Wilson et. al.) study (N=47) of COSA reported sexual recidivism of 2.1%, and general recidivism of 10.6% over a 2 year 9 month period.
Nothing Works → “Get Tough on Crime” – Longer Sentences
– The facts beg to differ. Fifty studies involving 336,052 offenders between 1958 and 1993 agreed with even newer studies that indicate that with high risk offenders, those who spend a longer time in prison have a higher rate of recidivism than their counterparts who spend less time. For lower risk offenders the longer the time in prison the higher the rate of recidivism.
For both high and low risk offenders, there was virtually no difference in recidivism between those treated in the community and those sentenced to prison
However, community was a great deal less expensive to obtain the same result
• Offenders convicted of terrorist offences must be kept in isolation and separated from inmates with similar convictions
An example from Israel
• In general “Security prisoners” are entitled to all inmates rights in prison and his rights as a human being and as a civilian are preserved while in prison
Terrorists!
The classification of The classification of terror inmates as terror inmates as security inmates security inmates
aimed mainlyaimed mainly
To enable the system to limit the To enable the system to limit the communication with outside world communication with outside world
The classification of The classification of terror inmates as terror inmates as security inmates security inmates
aimed mainlyaimed mainly
To enable the system to limit the To enable the system to limit the communication with outside world communication with outside world
Use of phones Use of phones
Home leaves
Visitation conditions
Personal belongings limitationsPersonal belongings limitations
> PC, VCR, Tape, > PC, VCR, Tape,
A Security InmateIs entitled to unlimited lawyers visits
> Palestinian inmates are entitled to visits by Palestinian lawyers
A Security InmateIs entitled to unlimited RC visits
A Security InmateIs entitled to receive money from the
Palestinian Authority
(Provided that these deposits will be done equally to all Palestinian
inmates, penal & security inmates)
A Security InmateIs entitled to study academic studies in
the Israeli Open University (subject to security guide lines)
A Security InmateIs entitled to study matriculation studies
A Security InmateIs entitled to be represented by one inmate elected to be a speaker by the
inmates
An Israeli Security InmateIs entitled to full social treatment
and rehabilitation services
A Security InmateIs entitled to social treatment when he is
in emotional stress
Summary
• Tight budgets = We can afford only programs and security measures PROVED efficient and effective.
• Correctional legislation = We can afford, in money and public policy, only sentences that help us reach or stated goals – the job of the legislators is to define those goals:– Rehabilitation = programs– Recidivism and less crime = shorter, rather than longer
sentences
Thank you!
Gary HillPO Box 81826
Lincoln, Nebraska 68501-1826USA
Email: Garyhill@cega.com