ABSTRACT
The import ance of eval u at ing correc tional programs has never been more pronounced, espe cially given the current economic crisis. With vast sums of money being spent on correc tions, the public is demand ing programs that work. The crit ical ques tions considered in this chapter are as follows. What works? What do we know about program effect ive ness? What harm is done when we fail to develop effect ive programs? Moreover, this chapter provides an evid ence-based frame work for discuss ing research and prac tice on community correc tions through out this book.
