The Evidence Generation initiative focuses on the application of evidence in the pursuit of more effective public safety systems, but the initiative is not simply an effort to expand the use of existing evidence-based programs. Agencies and programs must develop their own evidence and models, whether they are designed to affect client behavior, improve organizational systems, or generally influence law, policy, and practice.
Policymakers, service professionals, and their community partners deserve high-quality information about the impact of programs and policies. In setting priorities, program models that have already been proven effective and efficient will be preferred over programs that have never been tested by rigorous evaluation. Such preferences, however, should not be sacrosanct. Policymakers and funding sources should be encouraged to think of the evidence base as an ever-changing and developing source of knowledge. The search for evidence is an ongoing process. One should never assume that all possible evidence-based practices have already been discovered. The Evidence Generation initiative at John Jay College is focused on training new generations of applied researchers to grow the evidence base of the future.
Learn More
