Daniel Lee, chairperson of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, published findings related to research evaluating the importance of the Day Reporting Center established in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The report is published with former colleagues Dave Myers and Dennis Giever.
Overall, the research indicated that the Somerset County DRC was implemented as designed over the course of the three years it received federal funding. Regarding program outcomes, the evaluation identified that participants received a wide variety of services that led to favorable participant perceptions of the programming received and positive changes in participant perceptions of the criminal justice system. An analysis of COMPAS data revealed improvements in risk factor scores among participants while an analysis of recidivism data between program graduates and a comparison group identified lower levels of rearrest at six and 12 months.
The implication of these findings is that evidence-based services provided to medium- to high-risk clients with a history of substance abuse can lower recidivism risk and improve behavioral outcomes.
The full report can be found in the most recent issue of the National Association of Probation Executives Executive Exchange.