The North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center

Theory implies, however, research decides!

What is a SAC?

Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs) are agencies that objectively collect, analyze, and disseminate justice data. They contribute to effective state policies through statistical services, research, evaluation, and policy analysis (www.jrsainfo.org/sac/index.html). Every state has a designated SAC which is housed in various governmental agencies and in some cases universities. The North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center is the state designated SAC as determined by the Governor. The SAC is currently under the leadership of Doug Yearwood. For a list of other SAC's refer to the website above.

What is the role of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center?

The Analysis Center conducts original research and program evaluation in an effort to assist the Governor's Crime Commission in attaining its mission of serving as the chief policy advisory body to the Governor and the Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety on all matters related to crime and criminal justice. Founded in the mid 1970?s, and placed within the Governor's Crime Commission, this unit has conducted policy relevant research which has helped shape numerous statewide criminal justice initiatives. Examples include: Reformation of the state D.W.I. laws, evaluation of multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, creation and expansion of the School Resource Officer concept, developing community policing for urban and rural law enforcement, formulating a statewide definition of domestic violence, examining disproportionate minority confinement in the juvenile justice system, directing granting strategies for after school programs and community based alternatives, and conducting numerous assessments for the purpose of establishing a statewide criminal justice information network.

How does the Analysis Center fulfill this role?

The Analysis Center performs/offers a unique range of services to assist the GCC, GCC staff, state agencies, citizens and across the country including our Congressional delegation. These include:

• Information Systems Committee Staffing - Providing staff support to the Information Systems and Technology Committee
• Planning - Performing related planning duties such as grant review, compiling the annual Criminal Justice Records Improvement Plan and applying for Federal funding.
• Statistical and Data Analysis - Provide statistical data, maps, charts and graphs upon request from staff, other criminal justice personnel, students and members of the general public
• Web Services - Design, upgrade, and maintain the Commission's Internet website
• Full Service Publishing - Compile, desktop publish and disseminate the Commission's GCC Briefs newsletter, SystemStats, full reports and other Commission documents
• Quantitative Research - Conduct original quantitative research through analysis of existing data , surveys, and other means of data collection
• Qualitative Research - Conduct original qualitative research through the developmental analysis process. This process seeks to identify effective practices of existing programs and to document how to plan, operate, and expand similar programs based upon these identified effective practices
• Clearinghouse - Disseminate research findings through its quarterly SystemStats newsletter, full reports, fact sheets and oral presentations to the Commission and at National conferences
• Original Research - Conducts original research to develop models of effective service delivery systems and forecasting technology

How does the Analysis Center determine what research and evaluation needs to be conducted?

• Criminal Justice System Requests - Requests from the full Commission , GCC staff and/or Committees
• External Requests - Requests from other agencies, i.e. Governor's Office, Secretary's Office, DJJDP, General Assembly, DV Commission, ALE, Highway Patrol and other criminal justice personnel
• Federal Mandates and Requests - Federal mandates, i.e. Bureau of Justice Statistics - State Justice Statistics Program
• SAC Generated Ideas - Keeping abreast of current national research and crime trends

In what research and program evaluation areas has the Analysis Center recently been involved?

During the past few years the Analysis Center has conducted research and program evaluations in many areas which encompass the priorities and needs of the Commission, the Governor, the Secretary, as well as address the emerging state and national issues and trends. The findings have been published and disseminated in SystemStats, full reports, academic journals, magazine articles, the GCC website, and at national forums. These areas include:

• Preventing School Violence by Helping Communities Help Children
• Starting a School Outreach Program in Your Community: An Effective Practices Outline for the School Resource Officer Approach
• Community Oriented Policing: What it is - Why It Works - How to Get Started
• Community Policing in North Carolina: Effective Practices for Sheriffs
• Domestic Violence Shelters and Minorities
• Domestic Violence Units: Effective Practices for Law Enforcement
• After School Programs: Strategies and Effective Practices
• Domestic Violence: Dispositional Outcomes of Protective Orders in the Courts
• A Process and Impact Evaluation of the North Carolina Communities that Care Initiative
• An Evaluation of Processes and Services for the Partnership Advocating Safety and Security (Project PASS)
• Social Work and Police Partnership: A Summons to the Community
• Effective Strategies for Domestic Violence Shelters: Strengthening Children?s Services
• Geographic Information Systems for Small and Medium Law Enforcement Jurisdictions: Strategies and Effective Practices
• Engaging Elementary School Students and Parents: Strategies and Effective Practices
• Perceptions of Crimes Affecting North Carolina's Latino Residents: Results from a Qualitative Crime
• Prevention Needs Assessment
• National and State School Crime Trends
• Disproportionate Minority Overrepresentation in the Juvenile Justice System
• Law Enforcement Tools for Latino Communities
• North Carolina Citizens' Perception of Crime and Victimization
• Juvenile Day Treatment Centers - Strategies and Effective Practices
• Juvenile Gangs
• Crime and Victimization Among North Carolina's American Indian Population

• Notice of Federal Funding and Federal Disclaimer

« this page last modified 06/18/09 »