A Review of the Status of DMC Efforts in Iowa and Virginia - April 2010

was possible. However, we offer the ideal assessments as models that jurisdictions should strive
toward when attempting to determine the success of DMC efforts that are similar to those
assessed here. When the designs discussed in the ideal assessments are not possible jurisdictions
should, at a minimum, carry out the steps listed below to assess their efforts.
• Use RRI data over several time periods (annually or more frequent time periods such as
quarterly) to document that a problem exists.
• Use a recent assessment study (within the past few years) to explain why the problem
exists. If a recent assessment study is not available, offer reason(s) why it is thought that
the problem exists.
• Clearly describe the effort prior to its implementation. Include the target population, all
the components/activities of the effort and the indicators of whether these activities are
implemented as planned, how long the effort should take (if applicable), and what the
indicators of success are.
• Ensure data are available to document the implementation and outcomes of the effort
prior to its implementation.
• Use the data collected to assess the success of the effort.
• Document all of these steps and make the results publicly available.
Summary
Our assessment of the accumulated evidence on DMC interventions is that there is some
evidence to suggest some promising DMC interventions, almost exclusively at the detention
stage. Systemic interventions, such as JDAI and the Burns Institute approaches, seem to have the
benefit of energizing, at least temporarily, local efforts to address the DMC issue, and both
efforts offer some numbers that suggest reductions in DMC. There is no evidence that meets any
30