Projects

Take a look at what we're working on — from active projects shaping policy and practice to completed work that has contributed to evidence-based corrections.

Current Projects

Development and evaluation of a parole decision making tool (2025-2030)
Current

Updated Apr 27, 2026

Development and evaluation of a parole decision making tool (2025-2030)

Principal Investigator(s): Drs. Zachary Hamilton, Jennifer Tostlebe, and Alex Kigerl (with Drs. David Pyrooz and Stephen Billings)

Supported By: The Laura and John Arnold Foundation

Prisons in the United States are overcrowded. When prisons are over capacity it is challenging to effectively manage and rehabilitate prisoners before they return to their communities.

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services program evaluation (2022-2026)
Current

Updated Apr 27, 2026

Nebraska Department of Correctional Services program evaluation (2022-2026)

Principal Investigator(s): Drs. Zachary Hamilton and Jennifer Tostlebe

Supported By: The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services

In 2022, Nebraska’s State Legislature modified the previously enacted LB 896 to provide evaluation resources for NDCS programs to ensure the effectiveness of institutional programs serving Nebraska’s incarcerated population.

Washington offender needs evaluation 2.0 (2024-2025)
Current

Updated Apr 25, 2026

Washington offender needs evaluation 2.0 (2024-2025)

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Zachary Hamilton

In 2017 the Washington State Department of Corrections (WADOC) implemented their Offender Needs Evaluation (ONE), which is used to assess the recidivism risk and programming needs of all individuals supervised in prison facilities and the community.

Juvenile assessment and reoffending (2022-2026)
Current

Updated Apr 25, 2026

Juvenile assessment and reoffending (2022-2026)

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Zachary Hamilton

Supported By: National Institute of Justice

Strategies for preventing recidivism and risk management of juvenile justice populations has received significant research and investment over the past three decades.

Completed Projects

Improving the prospects of formerly incarcerated adults - Establishing the processes and procedures of the Never Give Up Transitional Living reentry program (2025)
Completed

Updated Apr 28, 2026

Improving the prospects of formerly incarcerated adults - Establishing the processes and procedures of the Never Give Up Transitional Living reentry program (2025)

Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Jennifer Tostlebe

Supported By: Sherwood Foundation

Critical to a successful reentry experience are obtaining quality employment, securing a prosocial place to live, developing a community support network, getting drug treatment (as needed), and changing one’s identity.