The purpose of this study was to assess staff and client perspectives on the Internet-based Journey Mapping program evaluation tool. A drug court program was chosen for a case study research design. Six staff and 10 clients participated in interviews and observations, and also responded to a questionnaire. A staff survey provided additional data.…

The influence of program-related constructs on perceived quality of treatment programs was assessed using a latent variable modeling approach and the responses of key personnel from 294 drug treatment facilities in Los Angeles County (California). A clear philosophy and emphasis and greater frequency of services significantly predicted greater…

Some of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical impediments to sound evaluations of jail-based drug-treatment programs are described. The focus is on a program in a large urban jurisdiction that illustrates difficulty in tracking clients and coordinating agency responses. Some suggestions are offered to help future researchers. (SLD)

Developed a comprehensive methodology for a series of process evaluations of seven therapeutic communities for drug-involved offenders. The methodology used stakeholder interviews, official measures of program implementation, and a new structured observation technique. Discusses the type and quality of information provided by each technique. (SLD)

This discussion of evaluations of mediation programs at seven sites and of shock incarceration and home arrest focuses on the similarities in the interpretations of alternative dispute-resolution programs to interpretations of alternatives to incarceration programs. The political construction of the two approaches, which are both designed to…

Shows how evaluators can handle conflict and create, restore, and maintain conditions for an ongoing negotiation process using the example of a vocational rehabilitation project for psychiatric patients in which a conflict developed between management and therapists. (SLD)

National survey data on the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefits of 11 different juvenile offender treatment program types are reviewed. Best-worst-midpoint, threshold, and convergency analyses are applied to these studies. Meaningful ways of dealing with missing information when evaluating alternative juvenile justice policies and programs are…

Procedures for setting and monitoring program goals are discussed, using a drug treatment project as an example. Implementation steps include goal setting, checking for consistency, monitoring, and providing feedback. The advantages and limitations of this goal-oriented approach are described. Available from: Pergamon Press, Maxwell House,…

Canonical correlation techniques are used to explore outcomes for 212 clients following psychosocial rehabilitation in vocational and residential programs. The usefulness of canonical correlation in program evaluation is explored, and the impact of strong predictor variables on longitudinal program research is discussed. (SLD)

Research on vocational services for methadone clients is reviewed, and preliminary results of an evaluation of a training and employment program for 249 methadone treatment clients in 3 community-based programs are presented. Results suggest the usefulness of vocational services in increasing training access and use. (SLD)

Partial results of an evaluation of an alternative criminal-sentencing program indicate considerable disagreement among stakeholders over perceived program effectiveness. It is argued that these disagreements are not isolated events but are likely to be inherent in any program with the potential to change established systems within a complex…

The effectiveness of an innovative outpatient drug-free treatment facility serving felony drug offenders who are placed on probation is evaluated. Treatment included educational and group therapy as well as acupuncture. Background characteristics, levels of treatment, and selected outcomes are described. Principles of successful interventions are…

Development, implementation, and evaluation of a treatment program for 222 violent criminal offenders with alcohol abuse or alcoholism are described. Evaluation of the program, with quasi-experimental techniques, shows that active program clients engage in fewer violent crimes and show improved life functioning in employment and social adjustment…

The trend toward expanding the use of prisons and jails for drug and alcohol offenders, sex offenders, and mentally ill offenders is examined, as is the corresponding conversion of community corrections programs to a surveillance and control orientation. The differential impact of this trend on women, minorities, and the poor is explored. (SLD)