For this assignment, you should build on previous assignments and discussion postings to create a comprehensive program evaluation plan. Using the program you have identified in assignments #1 and #2, discuss the following aspects in detail: description of the program and population served, activities of the program, program outcomes, the theoretical basis for the program, selected evaluation model, sources of data, methods of data collection and analysis, and your plan for reporting/disseminating the evaluation findings. You should provide a rationale for all of your choices, with literature to support them when appropriate. Please be sure to also include a discussion of ethical considerations and your plan for communicating with program staff and stakeholders throughout all phases of the evaluation. Your paper should be between 6 to 8 pages. When citing the literature, please remember to follow APA style.
Please use the following headings in your paper to improve organization and ensure all required areas are discussed:
- Program Description (Including a description of the program, population served, activities of the program, and program expected outcomes)
- Evaluation Preparation (Including theoretical basis for the program, selected evaluation model or framework, Logic Model, sources of data, and methods of data collection/analysis)
- Evaluation Reporting (Including Reporting/dissemination of the evaluation findings, ethical considerations, and communication to staff and stakeholders)
- References
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Evaluating a Criminal Justice Program
Jewel McCorkle
Nova Southeastern University
CJI 0540
Dr. Hector R. Garcia
07/16/2023
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Introduction
In this essay, I will describe a criminal justice program in my community and discuss its
mission, the specific population it serves, and the services it provides. I will then explore how this
program addresses a significant need within the community, supported by relevant information
sources. Furthermore, I will probe the gains of inspecting the program and evaluate moral
quandaries in the designing and completion of the analysis. Additionally, as an outsider observer,
I will record the first steps I would take to organize the examination.
Identifying and Describing the Criminal Justice Program
The Community Rehabilitation Initiative (CRI) in my locality is devoted to offering
rehabilitative assistance and reintegration guidance to those who have had involvement with the
criminal justice system (Sedano, 2022). Primarily, this program gives aid to people recently
released from custody, helping them adjust to living back in the community upon completion of
their sentences.
Services Provided by the Program
The Community Reformation Project presents a selection of amenities intended to confront
the particular requirements of the intended demographic. Such offerings are:
Transitional Housing: CRI furnishes short-term accommodations to those being released,
ensuring a secure home while they resume their societal responsibilities (Champine et al, 2022).
Employment Assistance: The program provides educative preparation, work station
facilitation aid, and profession advising to assist people acquire work chances.
Substance Abuse Treatment: CRI acknowledges the existence of substance misuse troubles
in the target market and furnishes access to substance misuse treatment plans, counseling, and
assistance systems (Champine et al, 2022).
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Mental Health Services: Acknowledging the association between psychological wellbeing
and criminal action, CRI furnishes psychological wellbeing evaluations, guidance, and referral
administrations to guarantee people get the help they require.
Addressing a Significant Community Need
The Community Rehabilitation Endeavor (CRE) acts as a vital asset in responding to a
critical necessity within our population, as verified by a paper unveiled by the local Correctional
Services. The paper uncovers frighteningly high re-incarceration levels, making it clear that
effective recuperation efforts are essential to stave off a relapse to crime and support a prosperous
reincorporation. By addressing housing instability, CRI helps reduce the risk of homelessness,
which often contributes to criminal behavior.
Furthermore, CRI's occupational aid program plays a pivotal role in easing the transition
from imprisonment to the labor force. Through delivering vocational guidance, job understanding
assistance, and vocation advising services, the program grants people with the necessary
competences and means to acquire job chances. Job engagement is not just a method of fiscal
soundness but also a crucial factor in diminishing the possibility of relapsing.
Benefits of Program Evaluation
Conducting an evaluation of the Community Rehabilitation Initiative would provide
several benefits. To begin with, we would be able to gauge the productivity of the program in
meeting its desired aims. Through obtaining and studying statistics on the rate of relapse, job
success, and patron satisfaction, we can decide if the program is achieving its aims and locate areas
for betterment (Kohrt et al, 2018). Also, evaluation can lend a hand to assign funds with more
prudence, making certain that monetary resources are used in the most beneficial way to address
community necessities.
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Ethical Considerations in Program Evaluation
When planning and implementing a program evaluation, several ethical considerations
must be taken into account. These include:
Confidentiality:
Preserving the confidentiality of participants and guaranteeing that their personal information is
safeguarded during the assessment procedure.
Informed Consent: Gaining approval from persons participating in the assessment, causing
them to understand the aim, potential hazards, and advantages of being a part of the research (Levy
et al, 2018).
Impartiality:
Preserving impartiality and circumventing clashes of interest that could damage the fidelity of the
assessment.
Cultural Sensitivity: Being aware of and respectful towards the diverse cultural
backgrounds and beliefs of the program participants, ensuring the evaluation process does not
perpetuate biases or stereotypes (Levy et al, 2018).
Initial Steps for Planning the Evaluation
As an external evaluator, I would take the following initial steps to plan the evaluation of
the Community Rehabilitation Initiative:
Clarify Evaluation Objectives: Clearly define the evaluation's purpose, such as assessing
the program's effectiveness, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and informing future decision-
making.
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Develop Evaluation Questions: Formulate specific research questions that align with the
evaluation objectives, focusing on outcomes, processes, and participant experiences (Sedano,
2022).
Identify Data Sources: Determine the types of data needed to answer the evaluation
questions, such as program records, participant surveys, interviews, and external data sources.
Design Data Collection Methods: Develop appropriate data collection tools and protocols,
ensuring they are valid, reliable, and ethical (Sedano, 2022).
Establish an Evaluation Timeline: Create a realistic timeline that outlines key milestones,
data collection periods, and reporting deadlines.
Engage Stakeholders: Work together with program personnel, individuals, neighborhood
constituents, and other applicable parties to attain varied outlooks and guarantee the assessment is
comprehensive.
Conclusion
The Civic Recovery Venture holds a fundamental responsibility in tending to the requirements of
persons transitioning from the criminal justice system back into the public. By offering
indispensable services and assistance, the plan looks to diminish recidivism rates and encourage
prosperous reintegration. Examining the program would give invaluable knowledge, permitting
proof-based reasoning, asset division, and persistently improving. Yet, it is basic to attack the
assessment process honestly, respecting confidentiality, allowed agreement, fairness, and social
delicacy. However, it is crucial to approach the evaluation process ethically, respecting
confidentiality, informed consent, impartiality, and cultural sensitivity. By carefully planning the
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evaluation, setting clear objectives, and engaging stakeholders, the evaluation can contribute to the
program's ongoing success and effectiveness.
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References
Sedano, L. (2022). Rehabilitation Treatment for Release Prisoners (Doctoral dissertation,
California State University, Northridge).
Champine, R. B., Hoffman, E. E., Matlin, S. L., Strambler, M. J., & Tebes, J. K. (2022). “What
does it mean to be trauma-informed?”: A mixed-methods study of a trauma-informed
community initiative. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1-14.
Kohrt, B. A., Asher, L., Bhardwaj, A., Fazel, M., Jordans, M. J., Mutamba, B. B., … & Patel, V.
(2018). The role of communities in mental health care in low-and middle-income
countries: a meta-review of components and competencies. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 15(6), 1279.
Levy, C. E., Spooner, H., Lee, J. B., Sonke, J., Myers, K., & Snow, E. (2018). Telehealth-based
creative arts therapy: Transforming mental health and rehabilitation care for rural
veterans. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 57, 20-26.
,
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Logic Model Framework for Criminal Justice System
Nutusha Burns
Nova Southeastern University
CJI 0540
Dr. Hector R. Garcia
07/30/2023
2
Logic Model Framework
The logic model aims to evaluate the impact of criminal justice programs addressing
juvenile delinquency in the community. Evaluation of the program outcome will be key in
determining its impact on preventing juvenile delinquency and thus promoting positive behavior
change.
Input Activities Output Outcome Evaluation
Supportive
programs
Implement effective
approaches such as
educational
opportunities.
Also, creating job
opportunities for
youths.
Rehabilitation
and recreational
programs.
Creating a
parent-child
training
program.
Providing
counseling and
ensuring ex-
convicts gave
access to
supportive
programs both in
class and in the
community. The
child-parent
training program
will be key in
promoting
positive
behavior change
among convicted
youths.
Evaluate the
impact of
education and
job opportunities
on reducing the
rate of crime at
the community
level.
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Policies Develop effective
strategies to address
the negative effects
of juvenile
delinquency at the
community level.
Adopting social
change strategies.
Rehabilitation
and
Engaging
convicted youths
lawfully.
Promoting
behavior change
among the
youths and
creating
awareness of the
negative effects
of juvenile
delinquency.
Examining the
impact of
rehabilitation on
promoting
positive
behavior change
in convicted
individuals.
Existing
resources,
such as
finances
Develop supportive
approaches such as
job creation and
promoting socially
useful activities.
Participants,
decision-makers,
policymakers,
and counselors.
Promoting
mentoring
programs, social
competence
programs, and
behavior
management
approaches.
Evaluate the
impact of
supportive
programs to
foster positive
behavior change
in society.
Community Engage volunteers,
policymakers, and
community
involvement.
Creating
awareness of the
importance of
community in
averting juvenile
delinquents.
The program is
expected to take
1 year.
Evaluate the
program in 3-
month intervals
to establish the
impact of
community-
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based programs
on preventing
juvenile
delinquents.