Evaluation of Jail Training Programs

• NCJ Number: 171620
• Author(s): J Kohls; D A Holien
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 102 pages
• Grant Number(s): 93-IJ-CX-K021
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

Based on analyses of inmate training programs in California jails, this report describes a practical developmental approach to assist program operators in building an infrastructure for outcome and process evaluations.

Abstract

Outcome findings show that most jail inmates are felons, many with prior felony convictions; most have an education of less than 12 years; most have abused alcohol and drugs; and most were unemployed at the time of incarceration. Outcome results of the program-served cohort show that almost half received disciplinaries while incarcerated, and over 40 percent were arrested, convicted, or in violation of probation within 6 months of release. These findings are inconclusive, however, because of the small sample. In the area of process evaluation, the study chronicled what it takes to do successful program evaluation in jail settings, based on the literature and on experiences in this project. Effective evaluations require clear goal specification for the overall program, target group identification, selection methods that ensure the target group is served, training methods and achievement standards to enable participants to attain program objectives, and recordkeeping and information systems to enable baseline evaluation data to be collected to measure participant performance and program achievement. Further, researchers should first assess the operational adequacy of programs and the independent variable. Length of stay and expected program achievement should be carefully considered when identifying dependent variables, and self-selection and attendance variability are major issues to consider in developing and evaluating jail programs. 20 tables, 15 references, and appended list of variables and data collection forms