Steve Aos, Jim Mayfield, Marna Miller, Wei Yen - June 2006

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy was directed by the 2005 Washington Legislature to estimate whether “evidence-based” treatment for people with alcohol, drug, and mental health disorders offers economic advantages. Do benefits outweigh costs? And, if so, what is the magnitude of the potential fiscal savings to government, as well as the total net benefits to all of Washington?

To answer these questions, we systematically reviewed the “what works” literature regarding treatments for people with alcohol, drug, and mental health disorders. We then estimated the monetary value of the benefits, including factors such as improved performance in the job market, reduced health care and other costs, and reduced crime-related costs.

Cheryl Milloy - April 2006

Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) statute permits the civil commitment of adult and juvenile sex offenders found to be a high risk to the public. Since the law’s enactment in 1990, to the end of 2003, 31 juvenile sex offenders were identified as possibly meeting the statutory criteria for civil commitment. These individuals represent approximately 1 percent of the total juvenile sex offenders paroled in this 13-year period.

The attorney general or prosecuting attorney declined to file on two-thirds (21) of these referrals; the individuals were released to the community. Follow-up data were available for all 21 juveniles through December 31, 2005.

Elizabeth Drake, Robert Barnoski - March 2006

This report focuses on trends of adult sex offenders in Washington and summarizes key research findings.

Robert Barnoski - February 2006

This report analyzes the relative accuracy of the LSI-R in predicting felony sex recidivism for Washington State sex offenders.

Roxanne Lieb, Cheryl Milloy - February 2006

In 1990, Washington became the first state to authorize the release of information regarding sex offenders to the public. Since then, the law has been amended numerous times to expand its application, increase uniformity across counties, and increase citizen access.

Wei Yen - February 2006

The 2001 Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to conduct a longitudinal study on the outcomes of state-funded mental health clients to identify best practices in the provision of public mental health services. This report contains the two-year follow-up of public mental health clients selected from the baseline year of 2002. Two sets of analyses are performed. The first examines differences in client profiles between all baseline clients and those who continued to receive public mental health services in 2004. The second examines outcomes in 2004 of all adult clients from the baseline and client characteristics associated with variation in outcomes. Outcomes examined include utilization of public mental health services, utilization of other public medical services, employment, and criminal justice involvement.

Marna Miller - February 2006

This study reviews all rigorous evaluations of Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) programs. We sorted these evaluations based on fidelity to the Homebuilders® model. Findings: IFPS programs that adhere closely to the Homebuilders® model significantly reduce out-of-home placements and subsequent abuse and neglect. We estimate that such programs produce $2.54 of benefits for each dollar of cost. Non-Homebuilders® programs produce no significant effect on either outcome.

Steve Aos, Marna Miller, Elizabeth Drake - January 2006

This report to the Washington State Legislature summarizes our latest review of evidence-based adult corrections programs. We previously published a review on this topic in 2001. In this study, we update and significantly extend our earlier effort.

We are publishing our current work in two installments. In this preliminary report, we provide a systematic review of the evidence on what works (and what does not) to reduce crime. In a subsequent final report, to be published in October 2006, this analysis will include a benefit-cost estimate for each option.

Steve Aos - January 2006

The 2005 Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to identify options that can cost-effectively reduce the need for future prison capacity. This brief interim report summarizes some general background information, discusses the research we have conducted to date, and outlines the work that will be completed in the final report, which will be presented to the Legislature by October 1, 2006.

Robert Barnoski - January 2006

This report examines the relationship between failure to register as a sex offender and subsequent recidivism.