Why is this section about “evidence based principles” rather than “evidence based practices“? Principles are constant and steady but “best” practices change with the political winds, the local environment, and improved research. If community corrections professionals understand the principles, they are more likely to create and maintain effective practices and problem solve obstacles associated with them.
It is difficult to maintain fidelity to a particular policy or practice without a thorough understanding of the underlying principles. It is not unlike the “give a man a fish” vs. “teach a man to fish” philosophy.
Much of the information presented in this Evidence Based Principles section is taken from Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Community Corrections: The Principles of Effective Intervention. Appropriately, this is one of the most popular articles written about community corrections interventions in decades. So popular in fact, that many companies, including several software companies, present the content of the article as their own in various marketing materials.
Since it was funded by the taxpayers via the Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections and the Crime and Justice Institute , some apparently believe they they “authored” it. As much as we at CorrectTech would like to take credit for the brilliance of this publication, the real authors put in hundreds of hours of labor and deserve public credit. The community corrections industry owes a debt of gratitude to Brad Bogue, the primary author, Nancy Campbell, Elyse Clawson, Dot Faust, Kate Florio, Lore Joplin, George Keiser, Billy Wasson, and William Woodward.
Based on decades of clinical and correctional experience owning and operating community corrections programs, CorrectTech has taken the ideas presented here and adapted them. We have changed the order of the principles because we think the importance of the principles matter and the order of the actions based on these principles makes a difference. We encourage you to read the actual publication as it is the original. While we paraphrase and, at times, perhaps, water down the author’s original intent, remember our goal is to simplify the concepts where possible so that it is easier for front line community corrections staff to understand and implement the principles.
