Part 1
In this course, you have explored how policies and programs are evaluated, including the planning, design, and implementation of evaluations. But how can the effectiveness of the policies or programs be measured? In this discussion, you explore the processes involved in outcome evaluation.
Research an example of a criminal justice policy evaluation with outcomes.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
• What are some advantages and disadvantages to the evaluation method used to find the policy outcomes?
• What measures are in place to determine outcome data?
• How is policy outcome data incorporated into evaluation? Provide at least one example.
Part 2 Response:
Diego Lopez
Depending on the program being evaluated an advantage of a program evaluation is that the evaluation can help to see if improvements need to be made. In addition, if a program has an evaluation method that continually monitors the program it can give the evaluator a way to continuously look for improvements. On the other hand, a disadvantage of an evaluation sometimes depends on the evaluation method you choose to use. For example, if you are using an evaluation method that requires interviewing participants it could be time-consuming. It could also require a survey to be filled which can become costly to print and mail out. In addition, these evaluation methods and their results sometimes can be subjective or interpreted in different ways.Measures that are normally in place during an evaluation of a program are usually interpreted at the end of the program and show if the program was a success or failed to meet the objective. For example, if you evaluated a reading program that focused on increasing reading and writing proficiency in students. The evaluation could be measured through testing to see the level students are at before the program began and after the program ended. This would show if the program was successful or if improvements need to be made.Policy outcome data can be incorporated into an evaluation by measuring the success of a policy. For example, when body-worn cameras were first introduced to a police department, data was collected on the number of complaints that were exonerated. This was made by simply reviewing the body-worn video captured that played a non-bias witness account of the events. The video helped determine if the officer had violated a policy or was within policy.
Part 3 Response
Aliyah Malik
An example of a criminal justice policy with outcomes is the Arkansas Car seat policy. Arkansas law states that children up to 6 years of age or 60 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety seat; however, the safest practice is that children remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until 8 years old (unless they are 4’9″ tall). The back seat is always the safest place for your child to ride. For the best protection, keep kids in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least age two and have outgrown the height or weight limit on the label of the car seat. The outcome of this policy is positive because thanks to this guideline many children are kept safe in a vehicle, and those who violate this law are held accountable such as being fined between $25-$100. The advantages are identifying components of an initiative that work/do not work and why and using the results to improve the policy/program. The disadvantage is using an approach that isn’t best for the evaluation or time consuming when it comes to collecting data. One measure that can be used to determine the outcome of the data is using surveys. Policy outcome data is incorporated into the evaluation because the evaluation that was conducted for the policy was to collect data to analyze the results to determine if the policy is effective.
