Angela Edmonds

HMSV 440W
Prof.

Research Plan
Participants and Recruiting

The group of stakeholder that I have identified to do my research with will

consist of Counselors, Chief of Housing and Programs, Correctional Officers
and Administrative Staff within the Virginia Department of Corrections. Each
stakeholder identified is involved in the programs provided. Counselors and
Chief of Housing and Programs are more personally involved.

Type of Evaluation

Improvement-Focused Approach will be used in my evaluation. By using this

approach with evaluating the Lunenburg Correctional Center (Va. Dept. of
Corrections) it will allow me to observe the program. This will allow me to see
if there are needs for improvement, what has been achieve and if there are
discrepancies that have made this program unsuccessful. This evaluation will
give me the opportunity to see how programs will affect those offenders returning back into
society once they have been released from prison. Evidence based programing is there to show
that different programs will work and recidivism rates will become lower, this will address the
questions for my evaluation.

Data Collection Method

The interview evaluation would be more detailed due to staff working with the offender
population on day to day bases. They would be more knowledgeable due to their involvement
with the offenders. The program staff and program records/documents (if available) would give
me informative information regarding the programs that are required by those offenders with less
than 6 month incarceration. This would address my research questions regarding Re-entry of
offenders returning back into society based on Evidence Based Practices.

Research Method

The qualitative method would be best to evaluate my agency. This would

allow me to observe instead of taking over the evaluation. This will allow me
to ask questions I have prepared as well as allow me to move the
conversation. There is no formal structured protocol to this method. I will be
able to move the conversation in any direction of interest that may come up. With the
stakeholders and offender population within the Va. Department of Corrections, this research
method would give them the opportunity to speak freely as well as allowing everyone involved to
take responsibility for contributing to the progress through their voice, listening , suspending
judgment and hold each other accountable.

Overall Summary
My goal is to evaluate the Lunenburg Correctional Center (Va. Department of
Corrections) re-entry programs on its success rate. Public Safety is the number one
goal of the Department of Corrections. Reducing crime by preparing offenders for
success through a continuum of services and supervision along with collaboration
with other state partners will decrease recidivism.