With stage one, preparation, and stage two, initiation, completed, the next stage is implementation. This is the stage when caseload guidelines are developed, cognitive behavioral interventions are deployed, and graduated responses are identified for the effective use of reinforcements and responses to prosocial and noncompliant behaviors.

For those who have already moved through this stage, now is a good time to evaluate implementation efforts and identify areas to be revisited. The Fidelity and Quality Assurance Checklist, included in the Implementing Evidence-Based Practices: A Staged Approach–Stage 3 document, helps agencies assess whether they are implementing tasks and subtasks to fidelity as well as guides the monitoring of performance over time.

Helpful caseload-specific documents and briefs:

• Caseload Guidelines: Strategies and Recommendations
• Supervising People at Low Risk                            
• Supervising People at Moderate and High Risk                           
• Supervising People at Extremely High Risk                    

 Making the Time to Ensure Evidence-Based Practices Work

Corrections professionals regularly help people reshape harmful attitudes and behaviors–an iterative process that takes time, patience, and consistent effort. Stage three of implementation takes approximately 18–24 months to complete. Several resources are available to assist agencies throughout this stage, including:

• Best Practices for Reinforcements and Responses to Noncompliance
• Effective Responses to Noncompliant Behavior                                                           
• Effective Use of Reinforcements                            
• Effective Correctional Programs                            
• Preventing and Responding to Relapse                            

Additionally, the Manual of Effective Programs reinforces the concept that effective correctional programming is a valuable component of a county’s EBP model. The manual outlines programs that are supported by research and provides guidance on what to look for when considering programs so counties can identify effective interventions that have the greatest potential to be impactful.

Butler County Probation Department Chief Douglas Ritson

Pro Tip:

The responsibilities of a probation officer have changed drastically over the years. When I became a probation officer in 1996, my number one job responsibility was to protect the community. That basically meant when people on probation supervision violated the terms of their court supervision, we reacted to their behavior by incarcerating them or sending them to treatment to fix them. Research has proven our thinking was flawed.

Fast forward to the present, we now know effective supervision can and will be achieved by centering our attention on the root causes of criminogenic behavior and implementing evidence-based practices. In doing so, we must retrain ourselves on what protecting the community really means. In simple terms, we need to focus on why people commit crimes, and not center our attention on the reaction to unacceptable behavior. Implementing evidence-based practices will help us do that. If we can successfully understand why people commit crimes, create a tailored success plan, and provide appropriate services and interventions, we will ultimately protect the community more effectively.

Implementation of evidence-based practices is a daunting task. It cannot be achieved in a short amount of time nor is it something probation officers can do on their own. It’s something the whole criminal justice system must work on together. I’ve spent a lot of time meeting with stakeholders to get buy-in to these new concepts. While we still have a long way to go, we have made huge improvements. I am proud of our achievements thus far and look forward to what this is going to look like in years to come.

My message to you is “stay the course.” There will be many obstacles and bumps in the road that will need to be overcome. Making mistakes along the way is to be expected. When you start seeing the success of the people we supervise, my hope is you will know all the work we’ve put into evidence-based practices is worth it because the benefits are twofold: evidence-based practices protect the community and improve outcomes for people with justice involvement.

Next Month:  Data and Quality Assurance 

Positive change is possible for everyone in Pennsylvania. We look forward to continuing to enhance your EBP knowledge and invite you to submit education/resource requests to askppcji@gmail.com.