By: Genie Jackson, Team Lead Research
At equivant Supervision, our team takes progress seriously. Our business model is not simply based around our software solutions and services, but a holistic approach to advancing evidence-based practices (EBP) in the criminal justice industry. One way we do this is by leveraging our in-house research team to conduct validation studies, complete dedicated data-driven research projects, and other custom studies . What we do with the resulting information is game-changing – and it all comes down to the data we are able to access and aggregate from equivant’s Northpoine Suite software application. When this is achieved, research becomes more streamlined and vital conclusions can be reached to positively affect operational and procedural decisions. It’s an ongoing cycle from which all stakeholders benefit: our innovative software facilitates collection of research-specified data, the research team conducts studies that reveal both big and nuanced conclusions using data from the software and provided by the customer, those conclusions inform future enhancements to our tools, services and software, and all of it contributes to advancing EBP in the criminal justice industry as a whole. Read on below to find out how our research, data, and software innovations converge to drive progress for all.
Uncovers New Insights & Trends
When agencies are bogged down by day-to-day to-do lists, it’s hard to consider larger trends that are taking place within an organization – or with clients. By investing in regular research, our customers who engage our in-house research group are able to enhance and extend the analysis of the data that are flowing through their systems (and related external data that may be necessary like data from state and federal DOJs, state offender management systems, and more) and what it means for workflows, KPIs, and client results. Being able to pull specific data sets and metrics as they relate to everything from assessment score distributions to FTA rates is invaluable in understanding the impact of daily tasks on larger goals and initiatives. And, as an equivant Northpointe Suite software user, much data can be pulled efficiently, streamlining the research process.
Identifies Opportunities & Next Steps
Once the right data are extracted from an agency system and requested from outside entities as necessary, the big question becomes: what now? As conclusions are drawn, opportunities can be identified that pertain to both detailed software capabilities and internal procedures that might need some extra attention or thought. With every equivant Supervision validation study or research project comes a comprehensive list of personalized agency recommendations for our customers to consider. Of course, if these recommendations turn into approved next steps, our implementation team then comes back into play to see how your software can be modified to foster improved outcomes. In addition, the results of these projects – and feedback from clients – fuel our next software releases. The data then become not just valuable to one agency in one context, but valuable to all of our customers as they inform future software iterations.
Encourages Ongoing Research & Agency Improvements
More often than not, initial research projects will warrant follow up studies based on the first round of study results. One example of this lifecycle is our recent work with a large DOC . After completing an initial study on recidivism risk scales for reentry in 2022 (which involved analyzing data from both our software and outside entities), our team completed a secondary report in 2023 where we honed in on program assignment and completion as they relate to overall reentry success rates. Connecting vital links like this is important for agency resource management, but also in determining what it makes sense to capture and track in our software. Whether eventual recommendations pertain to software or internal programming, this trend shows the impact that data have on overall process improvements and how this cycle has the ability to evolve and continue over time for the betterment of an agency, our software development, and the criminal justice industry as a whole.
Recognizing the value of collecting accurate, real-time data within any agency software system, knowing how to combine these with meaningful external data, and leveraging these concepts to create a culture of ongoing improvement can be difficult. In the long run, as we have seen with a number of our customers, investing in this process provides opportunities to improve their agencies, optimize benefits from our software, and contribute to the body of criminal justice knowledge industry-wide.
Whether your team is looking for an updated validation study on your latest assessment or you’re seeking a third-party perspective on a growing internal challenge, we’re here for you every step of the way. Reach out to our team today to get a conversation started to learn how our research – and data – can help you move forward efficiently and effectively.
