Rethinking Program Fidelity for Criminal Justice

• NCJ Number: 249296
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Public Policy Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2015 Pages: 339-349
• Author(s): J. M. Miller; H. V. Miller
• Date Published: May 2015
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-RT-BX-0103; 2010-MO-BX-0055; 2011-RN-BX0004; 2011-RW-BX-0008
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Award: Effect of Prison-Based Alcohol Treatment: A Multi-Site Process and Outcome Evaluation

Annotation

This article emphasizes the importance of combining process and outcome evaluations in a "mixed method" approach in evaluation research, since program outcomes are directly related to whether the features and delivery of program services were faithful to the envisioned program model.

Abstract

The author argues that such mixed-method evaluation research is underused in applied criminology and criminal justice science. In these domains, the objectives and design requirements of the process phase are poorly defined and blurred with the functions of pure qualitative research. Although applied field work enables an exploration of phenomena and contextualization of quantitative findings, process evaluation uses qualitative techniques to capture data on the circumstances and features of the actions and services that produced the outcomes measured with quantitative data. Accordingly, the foremost objective of process evaluation is to ascertain program fidelity, a concept that determines whether treatment services have been delivered in accordance with program theory and design.