Evidence-Based Practice in Criminal Justice

An Introduction to the What Works Debate
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-74935-8
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 224 Seiten, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

Evidence-Based Practice in Criminal Justice examines current practices and programming in criminal justice from a holistic perspective, covering policing, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice, with a focus on grounding justice with empirical research.

Many ingrained practices in criminal justice today have been based largely on conventional wisdom and experience, with limited empirical testing or validation. Over the past three decades, movements toward what works, best practices, and evidence-based practices have shifted the focus toward integrating empirical evidence in determining what and how work should be done in this field. What does “evidence-based practice” mean, though, and who has the authority to define it? How can agencies cope with gaps or conflicts in the empirical literature? This book demonstrates what constitutes evidence while discussing the limitations of what is known based on the current literature.

Aimed at undergraduates completing a senior capstone as well as early-stage graduate students, this book comprehensively reviews practices and programs across the various components of the criminal justice system, while also considering planning for new innovations or the reassessment and modification of existing ones.

Zielgruppe

Undergraduate Advanced and Undergraduate Core

Autoren/Hrsg.

Matz, Adam K.

Kim, Bitna

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Strafrecht Kriminologie, Strafverfolgung
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Kriminalsoziologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I: Why Studying Criminal Justice Matters and How it’s Currently Done; 1. Accountability in Criminal Justice Practice; 2. Who Defines What Constitutes Sufficient Evidence: Understanding the Varying Definitions of “Evidence-Based”; 3. Who Conducts Research and Who Funds It; 4. Testing What Works: An Introduction to Program Evaluation and Experimental Design; 5. Translational Criminology: Effectively Communicating What Works through Systematic Reviews; Part II: What Research Currently Suggests Works; 6. Policing: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses; 7. Victim Services, Pretrial, Trial & Sentencing: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses; 8. Corrections: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses; 9. Juvenile Justice: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses; 10. Implementation Science: Going Beyond What Works to How it Work and How to Keep it Working; Part III: Tips for Conducting an Independent Review of Empirical Literature; 11. Empirical Articles and Journals: Why They Exist, Why Academics Publish, and Tips for Reading Them; 12. Taking Charge and Writing a Review; Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Adam K. Matz, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of North Dakota. He has prior work experience in government and the non-profit sector, having worked at the Kentucky Court of Justice’s Administrative Office of the Courts and the American Probation and Parole Association, an affiliate of the Council of State Governments. He has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as a former Chair of the University Senate at UND. Likewise, Dr. Matz has served on numerous committees and working groups, including as Chair of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences’ Corrections Section and as a former Vice-Chair of the Global Standards Council with the U.S. Department of Justice. His publications have appeared in a variety of renowned scholarly journals including Crime & Delinquency and Criminal Justice and Behavior.

Bitna Kim, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and Director of International Initiatives in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. Her primary scholarly focus is the 3T framework—translational, transnational, and transdisciplinary approaches to criminology and criminal justice. Dr. Kim has held several prominent leadership positions, including serving as President of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. She currently serves as Chair of the American Society of Criminology’s Division of International Criminology and as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. Her publications have appeared in renowned scholarly journals, including Justice Quarterly, Journal of Experimental Criminology, and European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research.