Research and Criminal Justice Governance (CRIM90011)

How effective are criminal justice interventions in changing individual behaviour, reducing opportunities for crime, and increasing public safety? Why is there so much emphasis by government on the impact of criminal justice programs, and how does this affect the design and funding of criminal justice programs? What does this focus on effectiveness mean for research priorities and methods? This subject examines the research evidence about the effectiveness and impacts of selected policies, the policy framework that determines what kind of interventions are selected by government, and research methodologies including criminal justice program evaluation.

A particular focus will be on recent developments such as Justice Reinvestment (JR) and Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ) as the basis for achieving better social and governance outcomes from governmental expenditure on justice. We will consider whether approaches such as JR or TJ represent a genuinely new paradigm for the relationship between government and justice service agencies, and what outcomes might be expected from this kind of approach. The course will include an exercise in designing some elements of a JR or TJ program proposal, including working through a program logic process. To illustrate how the principles and methods associated with program evaluation work, the course will look at case studies that may include youth and adult diversion programs, problem-solving courts, mentoring and post-release support programs, and crime prevention programs. In addition, we will examine professional and political issues about the role and application of research in criminal justice, as well as ethical issues about engaging in research with vulnerable and offending populations.