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Immediate Benefits
Using evidence-based practices (EBPs) effectively in community supervision creates important and measurable benefits.
It reduces recidivism. [footnote to research evidence]
It protects public safety. [footnote]
It uses resources more efficiently. [footnote]
It creates a more engaged supervision workforce. [footnote]
It promotes the well-being of people on supervision. [footnote]
It takes careful and sustained attention for agencies to implement EBP principles successfully into their day-to-day work and to maintain the EBP focus over time. Some agencies try to do it but fail to meet the challenge.
The good news is that EBPs are doable, and staff at all levels of the organization can learn and master the necessary skills. Many agencies and organizations have developed excellent training materials and other resources that can help you succeed.
Where to Start?
NIC has created this microsite to help you access today’s resources for implementing EBPs in community corrections. It is organized around four audiences that make up a typical agency’s staff. Choose an audience level and begin uncovering the resources you and your agency need.
Community Supervision Officers
This level is for staff who work directly with persons on supervision.
First-Line Supervisors
This level is for individuals who supervise the officers who work with persons on supervision.
Agency Executives
This level is for leaders who provide vision and connect with staff and external stakeholders.
Implementation Support Staff
This level is for agency planners, middle managers, trainers, facilitators, researchers, and evaluators.
In each audience level, you can explore resources grouped into four task categories:
Connection, Assessment, Planning, and Supervision.
Connection is the essential element that enables trust and collaboration. To succeed in EBP requires us to be tuned in to the needs, objectives, and challenges of the people around us.
Assessment gives us the information we need to engage with our work strategically. Assessment Data helps highlight trends and create a roadmap for focusing on the highest-impact policies and practices in EBP.
Planning is a process of preparing for future action. We develop a plan and test it in practice, the use the results to continue to improve - from the case level up to the learning organization itself.
Supervision includes reinforcing desired behaviors, providing critical and constructive feedback, and addressing problems as they arise. Oversight and guidance keep the individual and the agency moving in a positive direction.
Specific competencies in each of these areas are different for each of the four audience levels. Dive in and take a look around.
Good luck! You may also find these resources helpful:
Add links to related NIC microsites?
Other major sources?