Evidence-Based Policy in Criminology

This criminology assignment examines the increasing reliance on evidence-based evaluation in criminal justice policy. It explores the reasons behind this shift, highlighting the role of cost effectiveness and taxpayer return. The assignment delves into the collaboration between practitioners and researchers in formulating crime strategies, using examples like the National Crime Victimization Survey. It also discusses the importance of accountability in determining effective policies and outlines methods used by policymakers to evaluate their impact. Finally, the assignment differentiates between policy evaluation and assessment, emphasizing their distinct purposes.

Running Head: CRIMINOLOGY
Criminology
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Author Note

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Why has criminal justice policy come to be more dependent on evidence-based evaluation?
Explain this in detail.
Evidence based policy evaluation is using the best available outcome of research in
relation to work of police to evaluate policies, agencies, officers, units and implement guidelines.
Evidence based evaluation helps the criminal justice system to develop, implement and evaluate
criminal justice policies. Evidence based evaluation helps the policy makers to ensure that the
policy will be successful for the purpose of fighting crime. Traditional and dominant crime
control approaches of the past are no longer affordable. Evidence based evaluation help to reduce
crime effectively and provide appropriate retune to the taxpayers.
How have practitioners and researchers collaborated more in recent years to formulate strategies
to address crime issues?
There is a great potential of research to make a change in policy and practice when it is
done in collaboration with practitioners instead of only academic researchers. Practitioners in
relation to the criminal justice system have the potential of playing a fundamental role in
development of research. As supervisors and administrators practitioners have experience and
knowledge that is significantly important for conducting rigorous research given useful research.
When the experience of practitioner and knowledge of researcher combine it produces beneficial
results. One of the major redesign of public policy with the use of research have been done with
respect to national crime victimization survey (Langton, planty and Lynch 2017). In addition the
system has taken into account public opinion and evidence generated from resecher for the
purpose of forming policies like the drug policy of United States.
What role does accountability play in considering which policies are “good” or effective?

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In the public sector accountability signifies the responsibility of professionals towards
being able to demonstrate that they discharge their pubic duties in an effective manner. When
there is a significant presence of accountability in public policies it can be made out that such
policies are effective and good as its makers will be held accountable in case the policy turns out
to be ineffective. This raises the confidence of the public in relation to the policy which enhances
its implementation. They know that there is no personal interest behind the enactment of such
policies and they are towards the common good of the society (Welsh & Harris, 2016).
How do policymakers evaluate policies?
Policy evaluation is one of the most significant ways of assessing the impact and process
of criminal justice policies. Generally, with respect to policy evaluation the policy makers work
with researchers to analyze the effectiveness of the policy framework towards changing people
who may become offenders or offenders themselves. In relation to this evaluation the researchers
collect data or information in relation to the policy, society and individuals and analyze it, after
such evaluation they send the report in relation to the result to the policy makers.
What is the difference between evaluation and assessment?
Assessment of policy means taking measures for the purpose of enhancing its effectiveness. On
the other hand evaluation is the process of measuring and observing the policy for the purpose of
analyzing it and identifying its value to the society. This is done by comparing it to a similar

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policy or standards. Evaluation only determines the effect of the policy and on the other hand
assessment works to makes the policy better (Maxfield & Babbie, 2014)

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References
Maxfield, M. G., & Babbie, E. R. (2014). Research methods for criminal justice and
criminology. Nelson Education.
Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal Justice Policy and Planning: Planned Change.
Routledge.
Lynn Langton, Michael Planty and James P. Lynch (2017). Second Major Redesign of the
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) (pages 1049–1074)