Cost-Effectiveness of Community Corrections

Through funding from the Connecticut Justice Commission and the National Institute of Corrections, ILJ staff conducted a cost-effectiveness study of 28 community agencies under contract to the Connecticut Department of Correction. The project involved extensive computer data analysis to determine factors affecting agency cost and utilized input from the state's management information system. Index measures for effectiveness were developed and applied to each agency, permitting evaluation across a range of success criteria. The measures were designed to produce internal as well as cross-comparative information on effectiveness and were intended for use by both the agencies themselves and the legislature in decisionmaking for funding.