Dretha Phillips - March 1998

The 1990 Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to evaluate the effectiveness of the Community Protection Act. As part of this evaluation, the Institute contracted with the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center at Washington State University to conduct telephone interviews with a sample of Washington State residents regarding the state's community notification law. The results of the survey indicated an overwhelming majority of respondents were familiar with the law and believed it was very important.

Sharon Silas, Scott Matson, Roxanne Lieb - February 1998

This report analyzes the projects funded by the Community Public Health and Safety Networks during the first year funding cycle (FY1997).  Information was obtained for 544 projects funded by 42 (of 53) Networks.  Project outcomes and measurement tools are examined, as well as the types of work performed and any results produced.  Projects funded for this first year lasted about four months.  Therefore, only initial results are discussed in this report. 

Donna Schram, Cheryl Milloy - February 1998

Washington State law provides for the civil commitment of extremely dangerous sex offenders. This study describes the 61 adult offenders who were referred for possible commitment as predators but for whom such petitions for civil commitment were not filed, during the first six years after the law's passage (July 1990 through June 1996). The subsequent criminal behavior of these 61 offenders was tracked in official records for the time period following their release from custody. During this period, more than one-half of the group were rearrested. The highest percentage of offenders were rearrested for nonsexual crimes.

Mason Burley - February 1998

The Family Resource Wage Progression Model (FRWP) calculates federal tax liability, earned income tax credits, food stamp benefits, and TANF (welfare) grants for low-income families with earnings under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The FRWP model can be used to examine different child care copayment rates to determine the affordability of child care for families leaving welfare for work.

Jim Mayfield - February 1998

On August 22, 1996, the President signed into law The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The new law contains strict work requirements, lifetime limits for welfare receipt, a performance bonus to reward states for moving welfare recipients into jobs, comprehensive child support enforcement, and assistance for families moving from welfare to work—including increased funding for child care and guaranteed medical coverage. This law also gives states wide latitude in designing their own programs. Washington State’s program under this law is called WorkFirst.

Steve Aos, Robert Barnoski, Roxanne Lieb - January 1998

This report highlights the findings of the Institute’s economic analysis of programs that try to reduce criminal behavior. The Institute found that there are some interventions, if well implemented, that can lower crime rates and lower total costs. Some economically attractive programs are designed to reduce the odds that young children will ever begin committing crimes, and some are designed for juvenile offenders already in the criminal justice system.

Mason Burley, Edie Harding - January 1998

In 1995, the Washington State Legislature enacted truancy legislation which gives parents, schools, and courts a specific process to intervene earlier in the lives of at-risk youth and students with school attendance problems.  In response to this new law, schools must file a "truancy petition" in juvenile court for students with five or more unexcused absences in one month.  This evaluation reports on the number of petitions filed statewide and examines the impact of the truancy petition process in ten school districts in Washington State.  A technical appendix which reviews research on truancy and truancy related programs throughout the country is also available.

Edie Harding, Mason Burley - January 1998

The 1995 Washington Legislature directed the Institute to evaluate the effectiveness of the truancy petition process implemented under the 1995 "Becca Bill" (E2SSHB 2640). As part of this evaluation, the Institute conducted a case study of truant students in ten school districts in Washington during the 1996-97 school year. This report provides a statewide summary of Washington's truancy petition process and describes the major findings from the one-year case study.

Edie Harding, Laura Harmon - January 1998

For many students attending college, receipt of financial aid is a key element of affordability. This study reports on the current usage and distribution of financial aid, investigates other resources available to financial aid recipients, and compares alternative methods of financial aid distribution and their impacts on the sectors of higher education and students served within each sector. The study also provides comparative data from other states on methods of establishing tuition rates and the relationship of tuition to state funding and affordability.

Robert Barnoski - December 1997

The 1997 Washington State Legislature recognized the need to improve the analysis, evaluation, and forecasting of sentencing and treatment alternatives.  In order to measure the success of criminal justice programs in increasing public safety and reducing subsequent offenses by convicted persons, the Institute was directed to:  1) propose a common definition of recidivism, and 2) develop standards for measuring the effectiveness of programs funded by the Community Juvenile Accountability Act.  This report incorporates both assignments.