What types of programs are available to assist the justice-involved population in Nebraska?
The adoption of evidence-based programs and services is one method by which modern corrections and community corrections agencies assist the justice-involved population in their efforts to succeed as law-abiding citizens. In Nebraska, as policymakers and practitioners work to improve our correctional systems, one of the most frequently asked questions is “What programming is available, and where?” In addition, correctional leaders, practitioners, and policy makers benefit from knowledge regarding the extent to which available programs truly are evidence-based, especially state-funded programs. To help address these questions, researchers at the Nebraska Center for Justice Research and the School of Criminology at UNO examined operating programs and services targeted for adult, justice-involved populations in Nebraska. The researchers conducted a systematic review and subsequently ranked these programs on their ability to achieve their intended outcomes. We find that only a small minority of programs reviewed are currently supported by empirical evidence. Furthermore, the leading domain being addressed by these programs is basic needs. These findings suggest that the state would likely benefit from adopting more evidence-based programs and by supporting additional research evaluation to examine the outcomes of the programs already in place. Read our Nebraska Evidence-based Program Inventory report.