Research & Services

The Center is involved in an array of research activities across a broad spectrum of criminal justice issues: these projects generally fall within two divisions—program evaluation, and crime and intelligence analysis.

Program Evaluation Division

Program evaluations are studies of the impact of criminal justice programs on target outcomes (e.g., drug courts and reductions in substance abuse). Evaluation research is applied research that is designed to assess the implementation and effectiveness of programs operated by public and private agencies. These programs are frequently funded by public sources that require independent assessments. The evaluation usually includes: (1) a process evaluation to examine the problems of project implementation (e.g., staffing, turnover, use of resources); (2) cost (benefit) savings analysis; and, (3) participant outcomes, such as a reduction in crime, violations, and/or drug use, employment, improved health and well-being of participants. Over the past 25 years, CCJR acted as a research partner evaluating a diverse set of programming from juvenile diversion and gang reduction to drug courts and aftercare programs for recently-released inmates.

Crime and Intelligence Analysis Division

Incorporating the latest analytic technology, research projects in this division run the gamut from problem-oriented policing studies to the geo-temporal analysis of hotspots and evolving structure of organized crime networks. To encourage the diffusion of innovative analytic approaches to studying crime problems, this division hosts training seminars, special events, and visiting scholars. Bringing together leading experts in the field, CCJR organizes activities that foster international dialogue to resolve important glocal issues—local crime problems enabled by transnational influences.

CCJR also offers a broad array of consulting services ranging from operations assessments and personnel performance appraisals to program auditing and community planning assistance. We have expertise in various areas connected to criminal justice and related social agencies, including but not limited to:

• Community Planning and Development, e.g., Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
• Crime and Intelligence Analysis, e.g., Hotspot Analysis, Social Network Analysis, Co-offending among corporate or organized crime groups
• Policing, e.g., management and operations assessment, workload analysis, personnel performance appraisal, evidence-based policing
• Probation and Corrections, e.g., evaluation of the impact of early release programs
• Prosecution & Courts, e.g., drug courts
• Juvenile Justice Programming and Educational Services, e.g., truancy abatement and gang reduction programs
• Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Programs, e.g., wrap around service provision