With funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, IGSR is collaborating with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) and researchers from George Mason University to develop and test a curriculum for training community supervision staff and supervisors in juvenile assessment, referral, placement, and treatment planning (JARPP). Using a rigorous, random assignment design, the investigators will gather data on about 250 staff and 1,800 youth to assess the impact of the JARPP intervention on case management practices and the use of substance abuse treatment and related health services by youth under DJS supervision in the community. The goal of this five-year R01 study is to increase the use of these services by youth in need and to reduce their deeper involvement in the justice system. From a broader perspective, the project seeks to address an urgent concern in both the juvenile justice and public health fields: the gap between research and practice.
Principal Investigator: Douglas Young
The purpose of this project is to provide technical assistance to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) in the area of risk assessment. DJS collects risk and needs data as part of its standard operating procedures for all youth referred to the department. These data, combined with official records outcome data (recidivism, court appearance, and compliance with supervision), are used to develop validated risk assessment tools in order to provide empirically-based guidance to decision makers at each stage of the DJS process (intake, adjudication, housing, and reassessment during aftercare/parole).
IGSR’s role is to provide data analysis and background research to the DJS personnel who are responsible for devising and implementing the risk assessment tools. IGSR validates risk items at each stage of the process and assists in the development of the risk assessment tools. Additionally, IGSR assists in the development of processes for monitoring the implementation of the tools.
Principal Investigator:
Douglas Young
Co-Principal Investigator:
Jill Farrell
With funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, IGSR is developing and testing the eCourt system, a web-based computerized management information system designed for use by drug courts nationally and built upon the Maryland SMART/ Drug Court system. The eCourt system is being piloted and evaluated in eight courts across the country. The eCourt initiative is intended to address practical needs involving federal monitoring and reporting on drug courts while also building basic knowledge about technology transfer and the role of technology in advancing program implementation and effectiveness.
Principal Investigator: Douglas Young
IGSR reviewed the processes of community and traditional prosecution in two Maryland counties. Through individual interviews and survey responses from state’s attorney’s office staff, local police departments, and community organizations, the researchers gathered data on the daily operations, goals, and collaborative relationships created by both community prosecution and traditional prosecution units, with special focus on cases of gun violence. The research found that although problem solving is highly regarded by both traditional and community prosecutors, the offices are only beginning to achieve a problem-solving focus. Prosecutors have formed useful partnerships that may help lead to further problem-solving strategies as community prosecution units continue to develop and gain experience. The research team produced a monograph documenting these findings, which concludes with recommendations for further areas of development and future outcome evaluations of community prosecution in the two offices. The Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention has funded this project with a grant of $69,694, representing 100% of project costs.
Principal Investigator:
Jeanne Bilanin
Co-Principal Investigator:
Laura Wyckoff
In the Information to Power Innovation in Maryland (IPIM) project, IGSR researchers are developing and testing a substance-abuse practice improvement system in several treatment provider sites around the state. The Feedback Assessment and Capabilities System (FACS) employs data available from the SMART IT system and organizational surveys administered to managers and staff. Program administrators and staff in four sites participated in a training workshop devoted to reviewing their site's FACS results regarding use of evidence-based practices and organizational strengths and weaknesses. Workshop attendees developed action plans to address the FACS results. Researchers have tracked staff participation in the protocol and progress on action plans and are comparing the impacts of the protocol at the four experimental sites and four control sites on client retention, staff-reported practices, and organizational measures of effectiveness.
Principal Investigator:
Douglas Young
Co-Principal Investigator:
Jayme Delano
IGSR conducted evaluations of the Juvenile Drug Courts (JDCs) in Baltimore County and St. Mary’s County, Maryland. For Baltimore County, the evaluation was conducted at three program locations in Towson, Essex, and Catonsville. For both counties, four different subject groups were included: (1) youth participants of the JDC; (2) parents and/or guardians of the youth; (3) a comparison sample of non-JDC participants under the supervision of the state Department of Juvenile Services (DJS); and (4) members of the JDC team, comprising the judge, the assistant state’s attorney (prosecutor), the public defender (or the youth’s private attorney, if applicable), the program coordinator, the DJS probation agent (case manager), and an addiction counselor from a community-based treatment provider.
The evaluation findings for the JDCs indicate that both programs incorporate the 16 strategies recommended by the Bureau of Justice Assistance panel of juvenile justice experts. Based on the findings of these evaluations, the JDCs are operating effectively. While the sample size for both studies was small, the JDCs appear to be effective at preventing recidivism (in terms of arrest) for the juveniles that are selected for participation, in comparison with juveniles who are not. However, to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of the JDCs with diverting juveniles from placement and into treatment, the findings indicate that updating and expanding upon the programs’ short- and long-term goals and objectives that are measurable and sustainable will reveal significant outcomes.
Principal Investigator:
Jayme Delano
Co-Principal Investigator:
Kathleen Lester
With funding from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), IGSR has undertaken a collaborative research program designed to make the state’s court system more responsive to citizen needs. Components of this program include designing a model process and outcome evaluation to be applied to mental health courts in Maryland, evaluating three mental health courts, evaluating the Truancy Court Program in Baltimore City, reviewing the role of the court in the juvenile justice system, developing a new model problem-solving court, reviewing judge and master staffing models, and evaluating the Domestic Violence Central Registry. These efforts have been undertaken as part of a research consortium including the University of Maryland College Park, the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the University of Maryland School of Law, Morgan State University, and Coppin State University.
Principal Investigator:
Jeanne Bilanin
Co-Principal Investigator:
Jayme Delano