Roundtable: Fifty Years Post-'Nothing Works': The Evolution of Evidence-Based Practices, Evaluation Research, Implementation Challenges, and Successes

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract/Description

Throughout the 20th century the field of criminal justice saw a fierce battle between proponents of punishment and advocates for rehabilitation, culminating in the 'nothing works' v. what works debate of the 1970s. The backlash against rehabilitation was amplified by Martinson's (1974) review of prison rehabilitation programs where he concluded that 'nothing works.’ Despite later retracting his claim, the impact of his statement has persisted.

Since then, an optimistic 'what works' ideology has been restored and has driven evidence-based policy and practice while evaluation studies have evolved alongside how we define "effectiveness" and measure program and policy success. This discussion will consider our new social, economic, and political context; the evolution in how we define and evaluate 'what works'; examples of evidence-based practices found across criminal justice sectors; implementation challenges faced by practitioners; and how we carry this evidence-based ideology forward.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Chair

• Mackenzie Kushner, Independent Researcher / Crime and Justice Institute

Discussants

• Carrie Chapman, Crime and Justice Institute

• Celeste Gander, Crime and Justice Institute

• Abigail Strait, Crime and Justice Institute

Organized by a Division or external group?

Crime and Justice Institute