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Evaluation Plan for the Offender Accountability Act

The 1999 Washington Legislature passed E2SSB 5421, the Offender Accountability Act, reforming the way adult criminals, under the jurisdiction of the state, are supervised in the community. The legislation directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to carry out an evaluation of the Act. The Institute presented the design of the evaluation to the Legislature in January 2000. This report describes the research design the Institute intends to follow during the course of the evaluation of the Offender Accountability Act.

Survey Responses From Washington State's Principals and Beginning Teachers: A Chartbook

In 1998, the Institute studied the preparation and development of teachers in Washington State at the request of its Board of Directors. A report was published by the Institute in August 1999, Teacher Preparation and Development . The study included surveys of beginning teachers and principals. Due to space limitations, not all the data from the surveys and from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) certification and employment data base were available in the report. This chartbook provides additional insights from the Institute's study. The link to the appendix above provides a copy of the survey and a summary of survey responses.

Population Description: JRA Intensive Parole Evaluation, Briefing Paper #1

In 1997, the Washington State Legislature funded intensive parole for youth placed under the supervision of the state's Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). This legislation targets 25 percent of the JRA population at the highest risk for reoffending. JRA contracted with the Institute to evaluate the program, determine whether it reduces recidivism, and analyze the costs and benefits to taxpayers and crime victims.

Supervision Status: JRA Intensive Parole Evaluation, Briefing Paper #2

This briefing paper looks at intensive parole program youth and answers the following questions: (1) Are intensive parole youth completing their parole supervision within 24 weeks of placement on the supervision? (2) Can we compare the status of these intensive parole youth with the status of youth in a control group? and (3) How does intensive parole affect the likelihood that youth will experience supervision difficulties?

Parole Revocations: JRA Intensive Parole Evaluation, Briefing Paper #3

In 1997, the Washington State Legislature funded intensive parole for youth under the supervision of the state's Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). This legislation targets 25 percent of the JRA population at the highest risk for re-offending. The goals of the intensive parole program include maintaining public protection in both the short-term and long-term; assuring individual accountability; and providing treatment and support services. JRA's method for achieving these goals is through an overarching case management system intended to help high-risk delinquents make the transition from secure confinement to community supervision.

This briefing paper looks at intensive parole program youth and answers the following questions about parole revocations: How often do intensive parole youth have their parole revoked? How does intensive parole affect parole revocations?

Unauthorized Leaves: JRA Intensive Parole Evaluation, Briefing Paper #4

This briefing paper looks at intensive parole program youth and answers the following questions about unauthorized leaves: (1) How often do intensive parole youth go on unauthorized leave? and (2) How does intensive parole affect unauthorized leaves?

Evaluating WorkFirst: Analyses of Cost-Effectiveness, Barriers to Employment, and Job Search Services

This study examines three questions about the Washington State WorkFirst program: Is TANF cost-effective, are WorkFirst clients becoming harder to employ, and does participating in WorkFirst Job Search improve employment outcomes? The analyses support the following conclusions: 1) When compared with AFDC, the government spends more per TANF household. Under TANF, however, fewer clients use welfare, and overall welfare costs are less. 2) According to four specific factors that impact employment, clients on the caseload in February 2000 were no harder to employ than clients on the caseload when WorkFirst began in August 1997. 3) For those with no recent work experience, job search increases employment rates. Results for clients with a recent work history are mixed. WorkFirst replaced AFDC as the state's welfare program in 1997.

Assessing the Impact of Washington's Truancy Petition Process: An Exploratory Analysis of the Seattle School District

At the request of its Board of Directors, the Institute studied the impact of the truancy petition process in the Seattle School District. Revised truancy procedures in Washington State school districts took effect in 1995 as part of the "Becca Bill." The truancy component of this bill requires school districts to file a petition in juvenile court when students accumulate excessive unexcused absences. This paper describes whether the truancy requirements work to keep truant youth (from the Seattle School District) enrolled in school.

Intensive Parole Model for High Risk Juvenile Offenders: Interim Outcomes for the First Cohort of Youth

JRA contracted with the Institute to evaluate the program's implementation, determine whether it reduces recidivism, and analyze its costs and benefits to taxpayers and crime victims. To determine whether intensive parole reduces recidivism, the Institute compared intensive parole youth with a similar group of youth who did not receive intensive parole.

The Washington Professional Educator Standards Board: Scope of Authority and Governance

In 2000, the Washington State Legislature created the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) to oversee new teacher assessments, recommend alternative methods of certification, and advise on issues pertaining to preparation and professional development of educators. This report examines scope of authority and governance options for Washington's PESB through studying models for tapping the expertise of educators from all 50 states and eight case study states.

Medicaid Expansion for Employed Persons With Disabilities: Costs and Benefits of the "Ticket to Work" Buy-In

The federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 is intended to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, focusing on individuals participating in the two federal income assistance programs: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. A key provision of the Ticket to Work law gives states the option of expanding Medicaid coverage to employed persons with severe disabilities. The Medicaid expansion, often referred to as a "buy-in," represents a major change in access to health care for persons with severe disabilities by greatly increasing the income and asset thresholds for Medicaid eligibility. This report, undertaken at legislative request, examines the impacts of implementing the optional Medicaid buy-in provision of the Ticket to Work law.

High-Cost Medicaid Clients: Targeting Diseases for Case Management

The rapid growth of Washington State's health care expenditures has renewed efforts to contain the state's health care costs. Of particular interest is the potential to reduce expenditures and improve health outcomes for low-income Medicaid recipients with disabilities or who are over age 65. This paper proposes an approach that uses medical claims data to identify high-cost Medicaid beneficiaries and provide them with case management services to help improve their health status and contain their medical costs.

Sentencing Reform in the Other Washington

Lessons from Washington State's sentencing reform in the early 1980s are summarized in this 2001 article.

How Much Money Does Washington State Government Spend On Prevention Programs for Youth?

Prevention programs are often though of as investments in the future; that is, spending money today on successful prevention programs can produce taxpayer and other savings for years into the future. Just as any investor might examine the content of his or her portfolio from time to time, this study provides a snapshot of the total amount of prevention-related spending by Washington State Government during the 1999-2001 biennium. Programs that address at-risk youth behaviors are the focus of this spending account.

Educational Opportunities in Washington's High Schools Under State Education Reform: Background and Student Outcomes

This interim report, presented to the Legislature in January 2001, provides background for the study with a special emphasis on current data available for high school student outcomes and performance in Washington. National and state trends in education reform are also examined.

Welfare Caseload Trends in Washington State, 1997-2000: Analysis of Long-Term Welfare Use and the Approaching Time Limits

This report looks at the three-year history of the state's welfare reform program, WorkFirst, and assesses some of the key issues facing welfare reform in the coming years. One of the foremost issues is the 5-year time limit on welfare benefits, which will take effect in Washington State beginning August 2002. Approximately 7,600 individuals on WorkFirst may reach the 5-year time limit between 2002 and 2003. This study describes these high risk cases, outlines the factors that increase the likelihood of remaining on welfare, and follows program participation of long-term recipients.

Purchasing State Employee Health Benefits: An Overview and Options for Change

This report examines the bidding process used by the Public Employee Benefits Board to purchase state employee health benefits from managed care organizations. Three options having the potential to improve decision-making and reduce costs are identified: 1) requiring the bidding process to occur before the biennial budget is passed; 2) limiting the number of accepted bids in a geographic area; and 3) requesting annual and multi-year bids.

Evaluation of the HOPE Act: New State Services for Street Youth: Interim Report

The 1999 Legislature requested the Institute to review the effectiveness of HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs (RLSPs), two new state services for street youth. This interim report describes the legislative intent in creating these services, provides an implementation update, and summarizes preliminary findings regarding characteristics of the youth served and services provided.

Strategic Directions for the Washington State Library

The 2000 Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy "to study the mission, programs, and usage of the state library." This study focused on three key questions related to this direction: 1) Are there options for redefining the roles and functions of the Washington State Library (WSL)? 2) What value can the WSL add to the delivery of information to the legislature and state government agencies? 3) Is the current location of the WSL on the capitol campus essential to its effective operation? Results of interviews, focus group meetings, and a survey of state government users are incorporated into the final recommendations.

Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: Testing Documentation Methods

The 1999 Legislature directed the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to establish three pilot projects involving child sexual abuse investigations. The Child Protective Services (CPS) offices were to use written protocols and test different methods and techniques to conduct and preserve interviews with alleged victims of child sexual abuse. This report examines the quality, feasibility, utility of interview techniques in each pilot site.

Children in Long-Term Foster Care in Washington: Preliminary Findings

The 2000 Legislature directed the Institute to compare placement decisions and funding methodologies for residential care services for children in long-term foster care and to examine the best practices in other states (EHB 2487). This report addresses the state's funding methodologies. A separate report covers innovative practices and a literature review.