Home      Login

Abstract: 

Tom Williams, associate director for Community Supervision Services for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) in Washington, DC, discusses the changes in approach that have necessitated his agency’s adoption of the principles and practices of evidence-based strategies for offender supervision. In his review of the changes in sentencing since 1975, he notes the punitive turn in the United States and then traces the counter to this turn in the promising practices suggested in the “what works” literature deriving from the “nothing works” debates on recidivism and the work of the Washington Institute for Public Policy and the ICCA annual research conferences. Being responsible for oversight of his agency’s probation and parole supervision efforts, he notes the high number of substance abusers who are on the agency’s caseload and finds that the programs suggested by the “what works” literature are worthwhile and helpful. As a result of CSOSA’s involvement with evidence-based practice, the agency has initiated a staff training effort and a policy development approach that incorporates the principles and practices of what works. Williams concludes this practical description of one agency’s efforts to make a difference and to counter the punitive turn by noting that it is his agency’s vision that it will become a viable criminal justice partner that contributes to the health and well-being of the community by assisting offenders to change and to reestablish themselves as productive, law-abiding citizens consistent with community norms. If CSOSA sticks to this vision, it will be implementing a triple E approach to the management of offenders.

Keywords: 

Affiliations:  1: Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).