Deputy Director Danielle Rudes Receives Teaching Excellence Award
ACE!'s Danielle Rudes has been honored with the 2012 Teaching Excellence Award! A ceremony was held April 9 by the Center of Teaching Excellence to honor this year's eight winners. Pictured to the right, Dr. Rudes receives congratulations from Provost Peter Stearns before the event. Also acknowledged was Assistant Director Shannon Portillo as a Teacher of Distinction. We are very proud to have two outstanding professors here at ACE!
To find out more, please visit George Mason's Newsdesk.
Op-Ed in TheFree Lance-Star by Dr. Faye S. Taxman & Dr. Danielle S. Rudes
Dr. Faye S. Taxman and Dr. Danielle S. Rudes published an op-ed in The Free Lance-Star in April, titled "Far better ways to fight crime than imprisonment." The article discusses how for over 30 years the primary mechanism for crime fighting in the United States has focused on building and expanding the capacity of our prison systems. The complete article can be read on The Free Lance-Star.
Pilot Sites for EBP Supervision eLearning System: Submissions Under Review
With funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the research team of Faye Taxman (George Mason University) and Ralph Serin (Carleton University) has developed SOARING 2, an eLearning system focused on the skills associated with using evidence-based practices for the effective management of offenders. The system consists of five modules: Risk-Need-Responsivity, Offender Engagement, Case Planning, Problem Solving, and Desistance. The modules focus on both knowledge and skill enhancement. Within each module are three lesson plans at the beginning, intermediary, and advanced level. The system has been designed to allow flexibility in its use—classroom, office, during breaks, etc. Users can work on each lesson plan
individually (about 30 minutes) or work on several modules while saving their work.
We are seeking three sites to participate in a pilot of the system. The goals of the pilot are to: 1) assess how line and administrative staff can use the eLearning system; 2) assess whether the eLearning system advanced their competency in understanding and use of evidence-based practices; and, 3) determine the impact of improved officer skill on perceptions of value of using evidence-based practices.
We thank the sites who have submitted letters of interest to be a part of this pilot. Letters are currently under review. If you have a question, or did not receive a email acknowledging your submission, please contact Faye Taxman at ftaxman@gmu.edu.
ACE! is hiring!
ACE! currently has several job openings:
A Research Assistant who will be based at Howard University in NW Washington, DC. Position responsibilities include recruiting clients, conducting interviews with clients, contacting clients in the community for follow-ups, as well as data entry and filing. For complete details, see the online posting: jobs.gmu.edu/postings/26809
A Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support work on a randomized controlled trial that seeks to further understand techniques and factors to enhance intrinsic motivation for syndemics of offending, substance abuse and HIV risk behaviors. Work will be based 75% in Baltimore, MD. For complete details, see the online posting: jobs.gmu.edu/postings/27510
A Research Associate based in Fairfax, VA. Position responsibilities include working on study protocol, creating and maintaining databases, conducting sophisticated statistical anaysis, managing field staff, and assisting in the design of new studies. For complete details, see the online posting: jobs.gmu.edu/postings/27559
A Counselor who will be based in Baltimore, MD 80% of the time. Duties include working on study protocol, providing motivational interviewing counselor sessions, developing interventions to test in the study, maintaining contact with the study subjects, working with agency personnel and research staff, and collaborating with lab members on empirical articles. For complete details, see the online posting: jobs.gmu.edu/postings/27725
New Partnership with Virginia Department of Corrections
ACE! has recently formed a partnership with Virginia Department of Corrections to discuss and better
understand how crime evidence-based research applications can affect procedures, policy and probation officer training. Pictured to the right, ACE! Director Faye Taxman speaks to Virginia Department of Corrections professionals during a recent visit to George Mason's Fairfax campus on February 28, 2012. Through this partnership, ACE! has been involved with the development of a new strategic plan and will assist in the implementation of the proposed changes throughout the department. During this process, researchers from ACE! will conduct surveys and observations in order to better understand how these changes are implemented and sustained in the organization. For the full story on George Mason's News page, please visit: http://newsdesk.gmu.edu/2012/03/mason-center-helps-virginia-create-probation-and-parole-action-plan/.
Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Sentencing and Corrections
As part of the ongoing RNR Simulation Tool project, ACE! and the Bureau of Justice Assistance are funding two systematic reviews examining key moderators (i.e. age, gender, criminogenic needs, etc.) of the effectiveness of correctional interventions. These two reviews may be published under the auspices of the Campbell Collaboration Crime and Justice Group if they are accepted. The funded terms are:
Gabrielle Chapman, Ph.D. and Mark Lipsey, Ph.D. of Vanderbilt University's Peabody Research Institute to conduct a systematic review of the Effects of Intervention Programs for Adult Offenders on Criminogenic Needs and Recidivism. This review assesses the impact of intervention programs on dynamic criminogenic needs and will explore which types of programs have the largest effects on criminogenic needs. Chapman and Lipsey will also assess the impact of changes in criminogenic needs on recidivism reductions.
Alex Piquero, Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Dallas and Wesley Jennings, Ph.D. from the University of South Florida are to conduct A Systematic Review of Ethnicity, Gender, Age and Antisocial Attitudes as Moderators of Violent Recidivism. Piquero, Jennings and colleagues will explore the role that demographic risk factors play as moderators of violent recidivism. Additionally, they will examine the impact of antisocial attitudes, a dynamic criminogenic need, as a moderator of violent recidivism.
ACE! is very excited about both of these projects and is looking forward to seeing the results generated by two groups of scholars with a great deal of experience conducting quality systematic reviews and primary research! The findings from these studies will be used to inform the RNR Simulation Tool to better estimate program effects.
Mason Researchers Form Study Group on Behavioral and Health Interventions
Mason researchers, across disciplines, have joined together to further the development and testing of sound behavioral and health interventions. A study group has been formed to capitalize on the enormous talent at Mason in this particular area from various perspectives. The aims of the study group are to:
1) further develop the scholarship of GMU on interventions;
2) galvanize the talent of GMU faculty and students to make important contributions in this area including design, methodologies, translational, and application; and
3) generate more funding to support research, graduate students, and community partnerships.
Dr. Taxman in the National Institute of Corrections February 2012 Newsletter
Corrections as a Partner in Crime Deterrence
What is the role of corrections in crime deterrence and reduction? Dr. Faye Taxman, director for the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence at George Mason University, says that evidence-based correctional programming and a shift among the corrections workforce toward an intervention model of doing business can heighten the role of corrections as a partner in deterring crime.
In a podcast interview with the Vera Institute of Justice, Taxman highlights this and other insights. In particular, she notes the importance of providing training for staff to support the cultural shift needed to encourage them to engage with offenders effectively and provide offenders with the services they need.
“We’ve got a workforce that we really need to help…learn to use their people skills better,” Taxman says. “And, you know, unfortunately in most corrections agencies, probation and parole, not enough of the pre-service or in-service training is devoted to these topics.”
In addition, she notes the need for a “continuum of care,” a process for meeting the needs of offenders from reentry and beyond.
You may also access the video and transcript interview materials online.
Welcome to the Center
Collaborative and creative research to advance evidence-based practices
ACE! conducts collaborative and creative research to assist policy makers and correctional practitioners with using evidence-based practices and treatments. We work with our partners in crafting new policies focused on preventing criminal behavior instead of simply responding to it.
VIDEO: In November 2011, Dr. Faye Taxman spoke with VERA Institute of Justice director, Michael Jacobson, about how US corrections systems can adopt practices to help reduce recidivism - a shift that will require substantive and cultural changes.
Interested in Graduate School at GMU?
Here are a few research opportunities for our students. Explore, consider, and discuss exciting research to advance the field of crime and health policies!
Spotlight: ACE! Welcomes Undergraduate Research Assistants
Working within the framework of George Mason's Students as Scholars Initiative, ACE! hires up to three Undergraduate Research Assistant positions each semester and over the summer. These positions provide students with insight to life in graduate school, opportunities to work with faculty, and first-hand experience at scholarship inquiry and development within an active criminal justice research center. Undergraduate Research Assistants participate in ACE! orientation and project-specific training and are assigned a graduate student mentor for the duration of their research assistantship. Students are given weekly task lists that outline their project-related duties so as to provide a simple structure to follow. To find out more about this program, please see page 11 of ACE!'s newest publication, Advancing Practice. ACE! is pleased to welcome two Undergraduate Research Assistants to our team, Rebecca Snead and Leonor La Costa. We’re excited to have them as a part of our team this semester!
Rebecca Snead is a junior at George Mason University from Ashland, Virginia, pursuing a double-major in Global Affairs and French. Rebecca became interested in Criminal Justice from observing her father, who often works with criminal offender as a Substance Abuse Program Manager in Chesterfield, Virginia. Currently, Rebecca is working on the EMTAP project at ACE! under the guidance of Graduate Research Assistant Erin Crites. Rebecca is working on coding articles for her topic area of Treatment Length. Rebecca has also been assisting Research Associate Alese Wooditch on the STRIDE project. Additionally, Rebecca helps as an Office Assistant to Project Coordinator Gina Rosch. Looking to the future, Rebecca has been accepted by the American Institute of Foreign Study to study French at the Sorbonne in Paris during the fall 2012 semester. After graduating in spring 2013, she is hoping to pursue a degree in International Law.
Leonor La Costa is a senior at George Mason University from Puerto Rico pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Criminology. Leonor has previously obtained a Paralegal Certificate from George Mason’s OCPE program. After working in a law firm for eight years, Leonor realized that there is a demand for attorneys specializing in juveniles and minorities that have legal issues and are not fluent in English. Leonor’s goals for the future are to assist individuals with limited English proficiency in the court system and to attend law school. Currently at ACE!, Leonor is working on analyzing data and coding alongside Postdoctoral Research Fellow Vienna Nightingale.
JSTEPS An implementation study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), where five federal jurisdictions are introducing Contingency Management, an evidence-based practice using rewards and sanctions, with members of their Probation populations.
Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) A project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, where we are working to develop a RNR Simulation Tool to assist agencies to use the risk-need-responsivity approach in practice through defining the type and nature of correctional options available in their jurisdictions.
EMTAP In this project, we are working with researchers from across the country to create a synthesis of evidence in the area of justice health, beginning with a review of existing meta-analyses that have been conducted to examine the different interventions tested, outcomes measured, study techniques, and resulting evidence.
ACE! Director Dr. Faye Taxman is a methodologist specializing in randomized trials and interventions for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. She is recognized for her work in the development of the seamless systems of care models that link the criminal justice with other service delivery systems. Faye is a leader in translational research and has developed numerous tools that advance the field.
ACE! Deputy Director Dr. Daniell Rudes' research falls at the nexus of organizational theory and socio-legal studies where she is broadly interested in understanding how street-level workers negotiate organizational change and the impact their decisions have upon policy and practice. Danielle is involved in qualitative fieldwork and data collection examining various aspects of organizational change among police in Trinidad, among Federal Drug Court work-groups, and with correctional officers in Maryland.
ACE!'s Danielle Rudes has been honored with the 2012 Teaching Excellence Award! A ceremony was held April 9 by the Center of Teaching Excellence to honor this year's eight winners. Pictured to the right, Dr. Rudes receives congratulations from Provost Peter Stearns before the event. Also acknowledged was Assistant Director Shannon Portillo as a Teacher of Distinction. We are very proud to have two outstanding professors here at ACE! 
ACE! has recently formed a partnership with 
Corrections as a Partner in Crime Deterrence
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