[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6396-6397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2891]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Community Restorative 
Justice Outcomes/Measurements and Evaluation

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections.

ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement--Community Restorative 
Justice Outcomes/Measurements and Evaluation.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of 
Corrections (NIC) announces the availability of funds in FY 2000 for a 
cooperative agreement to establish and develop ``community restorative 
justice'' performance outcome, measurement and evaluation protocols. 
This solicitation if for phase I and II of a ``three-phase'' project.
    Background/Purpose: Restorative Justice has emerged as a critical 
issue for the future of Criminal Justice Systems. Because it is new it 
requires a unique set of skills, competencies and perspectives from 
corrections agencies and other justice professionals. Victims and 
citizens have become increasingly frustrated with the justice system 
with a belief that the justice system does not represent their interest 
and does not provide them any value in terms of enhanced public safety, 
quality of life in communities, and a legitimate voice and role in the 
justice process. Restorative and community oriented practices show 
promise for being more responsive to victims and communities, and 
holding offenders accountable for understanding the harmful impact of 
their behavior, and for repairing the harm that they have caused. Many 
activities and efforts have taken place over the past four years to 
assist agencies in developing and implementing systems, protocols and 
practices related to Restorative Justice. Likewise, the effectiveness 
and evaluation of these new systems and programs has come into question 
and has become a central issue among professionals and criminal justice 
agencies. In some instances, restorative justice programs have been 
evaluated against traditional measures that focus exclusively on 
offender recidivism. Proponents argue that restorative justice is a 
radically different paradigm and so too needs to be our measures and 
methods of evaluating restorative justice. It is also argued that 
restorative justice is more than just a certain program (mediation, 
conferencing, boards, restitution, etc.), rather it is an operating 
framework driven and grounded by different values and principles. It 
requires us to look beyond offender focused measures and adopt measures 
that account not only for impact on offenders, but also on victim 
health and satisfaction, community safety and vitality, community 
problem-solving capacity and other variables grounded in these new set 
of principles and values. By identifying a host of new, or non-
traditional evaluation measures to evaluate restorative justice 
initiatives, agencies will be able to evaluate the relative 
effectiveness of restorative justices initiatives, and defend and make 
informed decisions on the purpose and use of such initiatives and 
programs. Additionally, the project will assist criminal justice 
agencies in evaluating the effective design and implementation of 
restorative justice programs.
    Project Goal and Objectives: The goal of this project is to provide 
criminal justice agencies the capability to evaluate the design, 
implementation, and impact of programs and initiatives being conducted 
under auspices of community and restorative justice.
    The objective of this project are to:
    1. Identify outcome and impact measures to evaluate the 
effectiveness of restorative justice programs and initiatives.
    2. Identify process measures to guide and evaluate the 
implementation of restorative justice programs.
    3. Develop an evaluation methodology for the collection and 
analysis of restorative justice data.
    4. Design and create a tool(s) and protocols incorporating 
restorative measures that agencies can use to evaluate the both the 
process (implementation) and the outcome/impact of restorative justice 
programs.
    5. Produce a document for wide dissemination in the criminal 
justice field on restorative justice measures and evaluation using the 
results from the first four objectives.
    6. Develop and deliver a pilot training curriculum for correctional 
practitioners on the use restorative justice evaluation measures, tools 
and protocols.

Scope of Work Deliverables

    Phase I: The desired outcome and product for Phase I is ``the 
identification of specific process, outcome and impact measures for 
evaluating restorative justice programs and initiatives.'' Intended 
work activities include assembly of a focus/work group to participate 
in the identification of restorative measures.
    Phase II: The desired outcome and deliverables for Phase II is the 
``actual design and development of an evaluation tool/instrument and 
protocol, the pilot application and revision of the tool at two 
jurisdictional sites, and the development of a document for broad 
public dissemination containing the results from phase I and II 
activities.'' The process tool should take the form of an inventory (or 
checklist) consisting of measurable items that can provide direction 
and feedback on the extent to which programs and initiatives are more 
or less restorative in their design and implementation. The site used 
in a pilot application of the evaluation design must be inclusive of a 
publicly funded correctional agency as a primary administrator of the 
program or initiative being evaluated, and shall be subject to 
consideration and approved by the NIC project coordinator. The document 
should provide correctional

[[Page 6397]]

and other criminal justice professionals a theoretical and conceptual 
framework, a practical and empirical methodology, and a practical set 
of tools and protocols for both a process and impact evaluation of 
restorative justice programs and initiatives. This document shall 
provide a basis for Phase III of the project, a training curriculum 
development and pilot delivery in restorative justice evaluation 
techniques. It is the intent that based on satisfactory completion of 
Phase I and II products and outcomes, the approval of a cooperative 
agreement proposal for phase III (development and delivery of a 
training curriculum) and the availability of funds, an award will be 
made to the successful applicant from this solicitation for the third 
phase of the project.
    Authority: Public Law 93-415.
    Funds Available: The award will be limited to a maximum total of 
$41,000 ($17,000 for Phase I and $24,000 for Phase II, and includes 
direct and indirect costs). Project activity for both phases must be 
completed within 8 months of the date of award. Funds may not be used 
for construction, or to acquire or build real property. This project 
will be a collaborative venture with the NIC Academy Division. All 
products from this funding effort will be in the public domain and 
available to interested agencies through the National Institute of 
Corrections.
    Eligibility To Apply: An eligible applicant is any state or general 
unit of local government, public or private agency, educational 
institution, organization, or individual with the requisite skills to 
successfully meet the outcome objectives of the project.
    Deadline for Receipt of Applications: Applications must be received 
by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, March 30, 2000. They should be 
addressed to: Director, National Institute of Corrections, 320 First 
Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534. Hand delivered 
applications should be brought to 500 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20534. The front desk will call Bobbi Tinsley at (202) 307-3106, 
extension 0 for pickup.
    Addresses and Further Information: Requests for the application kit 
should be directed to Judy Evens, Cooperative Agreement Control Office, 
National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, 
Washington, DC 20534 or by calling 800-995-6423, ext. 159, 202-307-
3106, ext. 159, or email: [email protected]. A copy of this announcement 
and application forms may also be obtained through the NIC web site: 
http://www.nicic.org (click on ``What's New'' and ``Cooperative 
Agreements''). All technical and/or programmatic questions concerning 
this announcement should be directed to Mike Dooley at the NIC Academy, 
1960 Industrial Circle, Longmont, CO 80501, or by calling 800-995-6429 
or 303-682-0382, ext. 132, or by E-mail via [email protected].
    Review Considerations: Applications received under this 
announcement will be subjected to an NIC 3 to 5 member Peer Review 
Process.
    Number of Awards: One (1).
    NIC Application Number: 00A14 This number should appear as a 
reference line in your cover letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 
424.
    Executive Order 12372: This program is not subject to the 
provisions of Executive Order 12372.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.602.

    Dated: January 31, 2000.
Morris L. Thigpen,
Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 00-2891 Filed 2-8-00; 8:45 am]
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