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