Taxman's Study Reveals the Value of Organizational Coaches to Reduce Rearrest

On April 12-13, 2010, the Urban Institute and Council of State Governments sponsored a series of meetings aimed at developing a body of knowledge on reentry programs, policies, and practices in support of the Second Chance Act.  Dr. Faye Taxman and members of the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence research team participated in these events.
 
Dr. Taxman presented her research on adoption of evidence-based practices based on the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey and preliminary findings from a recent randomized controlled trial examining different technical assistance processes to advance the use of evidence-based practices in juvenile justice settings.  The Juvenile Assessment, Referral, Placement, and Treatment Planning (NIDA, R01 DA18759) study examined three post-training models:  1) build internal expertise augmented with a life coach (enhanced); 2) routine boosters to review core principles of case planning; and 3) no planned activities.  The enhanced model improved organizational commitment and cohesion to goals, improved referrals to treatment programs, and reduced rearrest.