Browsing by Author "Weisner, Lauren"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    A State and National Overview of Methamphetamine Trends
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 7/1/2019) Weisner, Lauren; Adams, Sharyn
    While most of the country has turned its attention to the opioid crisis, Illinois has seen a resurgence in methamphetamine misuse and related offending, particularly in rural areas. Researchers explored literature and data available on the extent and nature of state and national methamphetamine issues. Researchers found the arrest rate for methamphetamine-related offenses more than tripled between 2010 and 2017 in Illinois and the number of individuals in Illinois prisons for methamphetamine offenses increased 67 percent between 2012 and 2018. Further, treatment admissions for methamphetamine increased five-fold between 2000 and 2017.
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    A Study of Drug Testing Practices in Probation
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 1/30/2020) Reichert, Jessica; Weisner, Lauren; Otto, H. Douglas
    Individuals on probation often are subject to drug testing regardless of conviction offenses. Positive test results can lead to probation sanctions, technical violations, and revocations, which, for some, may result in a period of incarceration. Probation departments operate with a lack of guidance on drug testing and a lack of research on drug testing's impact on reducing recidivism or improving behavioral health. In a survey of a statewide random sample of Illinois probation departments, the current study examined the landscape of probation policies and procedures and drug testing administration. The survey revealed many probation departments did not randomly test probation clients, often responded to positive drug tests with punitive measures, and infrequently offered positive feedback, or contingency management, for negative test results.
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    Alternative Sentencing for Drug Offenses: An Evaluation of the First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) Program
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2022-07-21) Reichert, Jessica; Adams,Sharyn; McGuirk, Morgan; Weisner, Lauren
    Annually, thousands are convicted for drug possession offenses in Illinois and sent to prison. Research indicates incarceration cannot effectively reduce drug use or drug crime and is not cost effective. Therefore, many states have invested in alternative sentencing or specialized programming for individuals convicted of drug crimes. This evaluation examines DuPage County’s First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) program. This program serves individuals charged with a felony drug possession for the first time. It is an alternative to prison with the dismissal of charges upon completion. The program incorporates specialized drug probation caseloads with treatment and services, a program-specific court docket with one designated judge, and drug and alcohol educational sessions. FOCUS is unique as individuals convicted of felony drug offenses are often excluded from alternative programming.
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    Alternative Sentencing for Drug Offenses: An Evaluation of the First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) Program
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, 2022-07) Reichert, Jessica; Adams, Sharyn; McGurick, Morgan; Weisner, Lauren
    Thousands are convicted for drug possession offenses in Illinois each year and many are sent to prison. Research indicates incarceration cannot effectively reduce drug use or drug crime and is not cost effective (Caulkins, et al., 1997; Green & Winik, 2010; PEW, 2015; PEW, 2018; Schiraldi et al., 2000). Therefore, many states have invested in alternative sentencing or specialized programming for individuals convicted of drug crimes. In this evaluation, we examined DuPage County’s First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) program. The FOCUS program serves individuals charged with a felony drug possession for the first time. The program is an alternative to prison with the dismissal of charges upon completion. The program incorporates specialized drug probation caseloads with treatment and services, a program-specific court docket with one designated judge, and drug and alcohol educational sessions. This program is fairly unique as individuals convicted of felony drug offenses are often excluded from alternative programming (Belenko et al., 2013).
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    Alternative Sentencing for Drug Offenses: An Evaluation of the First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) Program
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, Center for Justice Research and Evaluation, 2022-07) Weisner, Lauren; Reichert, Jessica; Adams, Sharyn; McGurik, Morgan
    Thousands are convicted for drug possession offenses in Illinois each year and many are sent to prison. Research indicates incarceration cannot effectively reduce drug use or drug crime and is not cost effective (Caulkins, et al., 1997; Green & Winik, 2010; PEW, 2015; PEW, 2018; Schiraldi et al., 2000). Therefore, many states have invested in alternative sentencing or specialized programming for individuals convicted of drug crimes. In this evaluation, we examined DuPage County’s First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS) program. The FOCUS program serves individuals charged with a felony drug possession for the first time. The program is an alternative to prison with the dismissal of charges upon completion. The program incorporates specialized drug probation caseloads with treatment and services, a program-specific court docket with one designated judge, and drug and alcohol educational sessions. This program is fairly unique as individuals convicted of felony drug offenses are often excluded from alternative programming (Belenko et al., 2013).
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    Criminal Justice System Utilization in Rural Areas
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), 2020) Weisner, Lauren; Otto, H. Douglas; Adams, Sharyn; Reichert, Jessica
    Criminal justice systems operating in rural areas have been overlooked and under-researched, creating an emphasis on urban criminal justice system knowledge and recommendations. In addition, many rural areas have fewer social and behavioral health services, longer travel distances for service appointments and corresponding transportation issues, a small pool of criminal justice practitioners, and outdated technology and infrastructure. Researchers explored literature on rural crime and criminal justice systems in Illinois and nationally and examined state data trends. Findings indicate Illinois’ rural counties utilized the justice system more than urban counties, with higher rates of drug arrests, criminal court cases filed, probation caseloads, and prison admissions and exits. (Author Abstract)
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    Criminal Justice System Utilization in Rural Areas
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 3/18/2020) Weisner, Lauren; Otto, H. Douglas; Adams, Sharyn; Reichert, Jessica
    Criminal justice systems operating in rural areas have been overlooked and under-researched, creating an emphasis on urban criminal justice system knowledge and recommendations. In addition, many rural areas have fewer social and behavioral health services, longer travel distances for service appointments and corresponding transportation issues, a small pool of criminal justice practitioners, and outdated technology and infrastructure. Researchers explored literature on rural crime and criminal justice systems in Illinois and nationally and examined state data trends. Findings indicate Illinois' rural counties utilized the justice system more than urban counties, with higher rates of drug arrests, criminal court cases filed, probation caseloads, and prison admissions and exits.
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    Entrepreneurship for the Formerly Incarcerated: A Process Evaluation of the Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC) Program
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 5/28/2019) Escamilla, Justin; Reichert, Jessica; Weisner, Lauren; Mayer, Christopher
    Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers evaluated the Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC) program. PERC offers classroom training on entrepreneurship and business, mentoring, and the opportunity to obtain a loan to start a business to individuals recently released from prison and living in Chicago. PERC is a collaboration between the Chicago Neighborhood Initiative's Micro Finance Group (CNIMFG), ICJIA, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), several community-based nonprofit training organizations, and multiple private funders. The goals of PERC are to increase employment and self-sufficiency of returning citizens; decrease recidivism and produce businesses that operate for two or more years. ICJIA researcher completed a process evaluation examining program planning and development in the first six months of the program by using multiple methods of data collection. The research attempted to answer who the applicants and participants are, how the program operated in the first six months, what the stakeholders, training staff, and participants thought of the program, and if the participants learned entrepreneurship skills.
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    Individual and Community Trauma: Individual Experiences in Collective Environments
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), 2020) Weisner, Lauren
    Trauma, which refers to an emotional response from circumstances deemed as harmful, can have negative, long-term impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health. This article examines the literature on how trauma experienced at the individual-level is influenced by trauma experienced at the community-level and summarizes how each is typically defined and addressed. While much of the focus has been on addressing trauma at the individual level, trauma at the community level directly impacts individual experiences. The Social Ecological Model indicates individual trauma cannot truly be addressed without also addressing community-level factors, including housing, education, and employment opportunities. (Author Abstract)
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    Issues in Policing Rural Areas: A Review of the Literature
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), 2020) Weisner, Lauren; Otto, H. Douglas; Adams, Sharyn
    Criminal justice issues are typically studied in urban rather than rural areas. This represents an important deficit in the understanding of policing issues, as most police departments are in rural jurisdictions. Research indicates rural police departments often operate with fewer resources, lower staffing levels, and more inferior technology than their urban counterparts. Other research shows urban and rural officers experience different sources of job-related stress and its manifestations. As such, further research is needed to determine the extent of these differences so that solutions tailored to address the needs of small rural departments and their officers may be better implemented. (Author Abstract)
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    The Administration of Naloxone by Law Enforcement Officers: A Statewide Survey of Police Chiefs in Illinois
    (Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority/Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 12/16/2019) Reichert, Jessica; Lurigio, Arthur; Weisner, Lauren
    The number of opioid overdose deaths has risen significantly in the United States since 2009. Naloxone is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdose. Public support for equipping law enforcement officers (LEOs) with naloxone has increased in the past decade. The purpose of the current study was to explore the implementation of naloxone by LEOs in Illinois, where deaths from opioid overdoses increased 54% from 2014 to 2017 (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2019). In a statewide random sample of law enforcement agencies, the current research examined the nature and extent of naloxone implementation; naloxone adoption and training; and perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes toward naloxone administration. Nearly all police chiefs reported LEOs in their departments were trained to administer naloxone, and an overwhelming majority of police chiefs reported that their LEOs carry naloxone. Half of the police chiefs reported that to some extent LEOs have voiced discomfort concerning the administration of naloxone. More than three-fourths of the police chiefs reported that to some extent LEOs believed that naloxone had the potential to promote opioid misuse. The involvement of LEOs in opioid overdose reversals can further help protect the public, improve police–civilian relationships, and enhance the quality of life in communities.