PSY-5114 V1

Fox, B., Miley, L. N., Kortright, K. E., & Wetsman, R. J. (2021). Assessing the effect of mental health courts on adult and juvenile recidivism: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 46(4), 644–664.
Fox et al. (2021) provide an analysis of the impact of mental health courts on recidivism among adults and juveniles. This reading provides an example of how research can help inform our efforts to improve system reform.

Skeem, J., & Monahan, J. (2020). Lost in translation: “Risks,” “needs,” and “evidence” in implementing the First Step Act. Behavioral Sciences & the
Law, 38(3), 287–297.
Skeem and Monahan (2020) discuss the First Step Act, which was reviewed in lesson 5. This article indicates the information needed to effectively evaluate the impact of this legal reform.

Sigman, R. (2019). Learning to listen: An evaluation of New Hampshire’s felony settlement conference. Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 35(2), 193–237.
Sigman (2019) provides an evaluation of one reform effort within New Hampshire. This article offers another illustration of how we must assess criminal justice reform to ensure that they are effective.

Campbell, R., Fehler-Cabral, G., Pierce, S. J., Sharma, D. B., Shaw, J., Horsford, S., & Feeney, H. (2021). Changing the criminal justice system response to sexual assault: An empirical study of a participatory action research project. American Journal of Community Psychology, 67(1–2), 166–178.
Campbell et al. (2021) demonstrate another way in which research may help criminal justice reform. They specifically demonstrate the use of participatory action research as a method for initiating needed changes.

Meldrum, R. C., Stemen, D., & Kutateladze, B. L. (2021). Progressive and traditional orientations to prosecution: An empirical assessment in four prosecutorial offices. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48(3), 354–372.
Meldrum et al. (2021) provide a study of four different approaches to prosecution, including those representing an approach discussed in Lesson 5, progressive prosecution. As such, it offers and example of how we might use research to critique and improve upon reform efforts.

Pew Research Center. (2018, March). More Imprisonment does not reduce state drug problems.
This optional reading discusses the limited effectiveness of using incarceration to curb drug offenses, particularly among individuals with substance use issues. It presents another example of how research informs what approaches we should take in system reform.