Evidence - Based Decision Making Initiative

March 2015

Following the remarkable achievements by Indiana to improve public safety through the application of proven research in criminal justice decisions, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has selected Indiana to participate in Phase 5 of its Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) Initiative.

The NIC’s EBDM framework represents an evolution of today’s criminal justice system, designed to build collaborative, evidence-based decision making and practices in local criminal justice systems by equipping criminal justice policymakers with the information, processes, and tools to reduce pretrial misconduct and post-conviction reoffending. The NIC introduced the EBDM criminal justice framework in 2010 after extensive research and input from leading professionals across the nation. 

Mary Kay Hudson

“The National Institute of Corrections provided technical assistance to Grant County, Indiana to help them implement strategies, processes and methods to advance constructive change in their local criminal justice system, resulting in a reduction of risk and harm in their community. We are pleased that Indiana is being supported by the NIC to continue this approach in other localities in our state,” said Mary Kay Hudson, Court Services Director, Office of Court Services. 

“With this broader implementation of EBDM, we will build upon the experiences of those who have advanced the use of new skills, approaches, and research to engineer systems that are vision-driven, efficient, and effective."

Application Proccess

After reviewing the demonstrated results: increased efficiency, decreased costs and improved public safety from Grant County, criminal justice leaders from across the state, including representatives from Law Enforcement, Public Defense, Prosecution, the Judiciary, Probation and Parole, Community Corrections, and others, applied to the NIC to participate in Phase 5 of the EBDM Initiative. Jefferson County was selected as one of six counties to represent Indiana in this application process.

Jim Cosby

“At the National Institute of Corrections, we believe that risk and harm reduction are fundamental goals of the justice system,” said NIC Director Jim Cosby. “We are pleased to partner with state and local officials to make EBDM a statewide reality. The leaders of Indiana’s criminal justice agencies are demonstrating that local collaboration and research evidence can result in improved community and system outcomes, without sacrificing offender accountability.”

Implementation

The initial steps of Phase 5 of the EBDM Initiative in Indiana will start with the “EBDM Roadmap,” a step-by-step process designed to assist states in preparing for the application of the framework in six additional sites across the state, Bartholomew County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Jefferson County, Porter County and Tipton County. Indiana joins Wisconsin and Virginia as one of the three initial states to receive support from NIC for the implementation of this framework. NIC will provide technical assistance, training and guidance around effective implementation to participating teams in each of these three states.

Currently

Indiana was selected to participate in Phase 6 of the NIC EBDM initiative known as the implementation stages. Key criminal justice stakeholders in Jefferson County have been developing action steps to improve criminal justice practices in our community.