Improving Accountability and Transparency in Jail Operations

The goals of this project are to recommend guidance for jail leaders to: 
(1) improve and enhance their organization’s internal and external effectiveness through the collection, analysis and application of data, and (2) enhance internal and external operational accountability, credibility, and transparency.

PROJECT Objectives

More Information

1. Identify criminal justice system initiatives regarding: evidence-based practice, data collection and analysis, accountability based-management, oversight, performance based measurement, and related organizational responses.
   • Overview:
     • Evidence-based practices in jails.
     • Total Quality Management principles.
     • Existence of accountability-based policies and procedures and practices in jails.
     • Challenges in data collection.
     • Obstacles to analysis of data.
     • Identify the existence of specific jail-relevant performance-based measures.
     • Barriers to use of data in decision-making and operations.
   • Discuss risks and rewards of data-driven jails.
2. Overview of the relevant literature and research.
   • Produce an annotated bibliography that also identifies resources.
     • Annotated Bibliography - 2.25.21 (PDF)
3. Via a national survey of jails, identify existing jail policies and procedures (and processes) related to accountability-based management, routine collection, analysis and application of data, and specific performance-based measurements. 
   • IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN JAIL OPERATIONS - Draft 9/4/2020  (PDF)  Results - Survey of the Field
4. Provide guidance and options for jail leaders to improve accountability and transparency, given differences in location, average daily population, resources and organizational structure among the nation’s jails.
   • Identify elements of effective policies and procedures.
   • Highlight relevant competencies and leadership development implications, including training needs.
   • Overview of processes to develop relevant, effective and realistic performance measures.
   • Address the potential political impacts of using data to advance the jails’ mission and vision in the local environment.

For more information and/or to volunteer to assist contact Susan McCampbell at susanmccampobell@cipp.org
 
This site will be updated as project
​deliverables are completed.

Latest Update: February 25, 2021

This project is solely funded by the Center for Innovative Public Policies, Inc.