The number seven is considered lucky by many individuals and cultures. For PPCJI, the number seven is appealing because, in 2023, we’re celebrating seven years of promoting and creating positive change for everyone in Pennsylvania. While luck may have contributed to some successes over the years, our efforts and outcomes are the direct result of intentional, evidence-based, data-informed research and practices. This month, we highlight several of the many amazing accomplishments achieved since the original 2016 PPCJI strategic plan.

How it All Started:

By working together and identifying a vision—a shared interest to improve community well-being by employing research-informed practices at each decision point throughout the criminal justice system—justice professionals across Pennsylvania have been better able to achieve a better future for all Pennsylvanians.

The Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Overview video provides quick insight into how PPCJI is changing how community justice responds, from the bench to the community.

Early on, two (2) virtual forums attended by approximately 300 county stakeholders were held to advance EBP and to set the stage for the EBP regional planning workshops.

Following the forums, PPCJI hosted two (2) regional planning workshops with stakeholder representation from 42 counties.

The statewide blueprint for EBP implementation continued through a variety of actions, including:

• Implementation Leadership Academy for more than 145 chiefs, deputy chiefs, and supervisors
• PPCJI Possible PA Communications Kit
• Building out the EBP Stakeholder Resources web page with rich resources such as:
  • “Voices from the Field”—personal stories from stakeholders, including a judge, district attorney, chief probation officer, public defender, warden, and victim advocate.
  • EBP Briefs on collaboration and the impact that key stakeholders (judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, victim service providers, law enforcement, community) can have on positive change.
  • Information focused on ensuring victim rights, policies, and staff training.
• Produced a Cost-benefit of Probation and Parole’s Application of Evidence-Based Practices.
• Developed caseload guidelines, strategies, and recommendations.

Training:

Training has been key to the implementation and ongoing delivery of EBP. Over the last seven years, PPCJI has offered more than 80 virtual skill-based training courses to more than 1,440 adult probation professionals.

Motivational interviewing—a person-centered approach to motivating positive behavior change—is an integral part of EBP that continues to garner desired outcomes. In order to ensure we could train as many probation officers as possible, we increased the number of certified motivational interviewing trainers across counties to 54 (currently 41 due to staff turnover). These certified trainers provided training to more than 1,000 probation officers. Additionally, we distributed over 1,600 MI-20 licenses to probation officers through an online booter MI curriculum, produced videos and discussion guides on Building a Professional Alliance and Overcoming Resistance to Change; and produced an EBP Brief on Building Rapport. EBP Briefs on behavioral responses to non-compliance and use of reinforcements have also been produced to aid justice professionals in identifying indicators that will drive positive outcomes.

Supervision Tools:

Equipping justice professionals with the EBP tools needed to provide successful supervision will always be a priority for PPCJI. From assessments to case plans to programs to caseloads, multiple guides, webinars, templates, and EBP Briefs have been produced over the last seven years and are easily accessible to justice professionals on the EBP Stakeholder Resources web page. Examples of core supervision tools include:

Guides/EBP Briefs

• Risk and Need Assessment User Guide – Volume 1
• Risk and Needs Assessments User Guide – Volume 2 – Specialized Assessments
• Risk Assessment and Racial Fairness: The Proper Use of Risk-Needs Assessments
• Interrater Reliability of Risk Needs instruments
• EBP Briefs on Assessments, Criminogenic Needs, and Responsivity
• Performing a Program and Service Gap Analysis
• EBP Brief: Effective Correctional Interventions
• EBP Brief: Dosage, Intensity, and Duration
• EBP Brief: Supervising People at Low Risk
• EBP Brief: Supervising People at Moderate and High Risk
• EBP Brief: Supervising People at Extremely High Risk
• Caseload Guidelines: Strategies and Recommendations
• Statewide Success Plan Template

Webinars

• Improving our Efficiency and Effectiveness Through the Use of Risk and Needs Assessments
• Racial Bias in Assessments
• Behavioral Change Through the Use of Success Plans

We have accomplished a lot over the last seven years, and we’re just getting started! In addition to the many accomplishments detailed in this email, we’ve produced and shared three spotlights highlighting exemplary outcomes in four counties. 

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to the PPCJI's successes. We look forward to celebrating more successes as we implement the 2023–2025 strategic plan.

Next month:  Information about the recently awarded 2023 EBP Coordination and Implementation Grant

Positive change is possible for everyone in Pennsylvania. We look forward to continuing to enhance your EBP knowledge and invite you to submit education/resource requests to askppcji@gmail.com.