Book Review: American Criminal Justice Policy: An Evaluation Approach to Increasing Accountability and Effectiveness

• Author: Kathleen Auerhahn
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016811409917
• Published date: 01 March 2012
• Date: 01 March 2012
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

characteristic traits (such as depression, violence, and hostility) that might suggest a ‘‘mentally

unstable’’ individual. Outside of context and analysis, these traits, again, mean very little. It is in

this area that the book would have greatly benefited; an additional chapter, or addition to each chap-

ter, detailing the type of mental illness or instability that the assassin (or would-be) presented at the

time of the crime would have greatly strengthened the book’s relevance, insofar as criminological

literature is concerned. Even a discussion of the evolution of the diagnostic criteria of mental illness

would have assisted this book in reaching its true potential. The authors indicated the failure of the

medical profession in regard to Zachary Taylor’s death (discussed in the chapter on rumored assas-

sinations), but they fail to discuss the same kinds of failure of the psychological community, though

they do make some gains with this line of critique when discussing John Hinkley’s assassination

attempt on President Reagan’s life.

Criticisms aside, for they mainly related to the book’s capacity to enrich criminological liter-

ature, the authors have presented a detailed and concise compilation of any and all known

attempts, be they successful or not, on the U.S. President’s life. The book is captivating, with a

pace that allows the reader to move from chapter to chapter with great ease and understanding

of the events presented. This is no small feat for a historical depiction of events that have received

vast levels of attention in the past.

D. P. Mears

American Criminal Justice Policy: An Evaluation Approach to Increasing Accountability and Effectiveness. New York:

Cambridge University Press, 2010. xi, 321 pp. $90.00 cloth, $34.99 paper. ISBN 978-0-521-74623-6

Reviewed by: Kathleen Auerhahn, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

DOI: 10.1177/0734016811409917

Daniel Mears’ American Criminal Justice Policy: An Evaluation Approach to Increasing

Accountability and Effectiveness is the latest addition to the array of texts on evaluation research.

The focus on policy evaluation is especially welcome in a field dominated by an emphasis on

program evaluation. Mears presents a version of the evaluation hierarchy, adapted from the classic

text by Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, and Howard E. Freeman, consisting of five types of evalua-

tion research (needs evaluations, theory evaluations, implementation or process evaluations, impact

evaluations, and cost–benefit analysis) as part of a comprehensive framework for improving the

quality of criminal justice. In so doing, Mears contrasts his own, more holistic, approach with the

traditionally ‘‘reactive’’ model of evaluation research, making a convincing case for his vision.

A concise introductory chapter that lays out the purpose and structure of the book precedes a well-

crafted exposition of the evaluation hierarchy and the need for a greater emphasis on accountability,

rationality, and the wider application of evidence-based practice in criminal justice. Identically

structured chapters are devoted to each step in the evaluation hierarchy. Each contains sections

defining the type of evaluation (‘‘what is a theory evaluation?’’), explaining the importance of this

kind of evaluation, and two ‘‘case studies’’ of contemporary criminal justice policies to illustrate the

particular evaluation methodology. Mears concludes the book with a number of recommendations

for improving outcomes in the criminal justice system that flow from his vision of the evaluation

hierarchy framework. These recommendations range from relatively easily implemented (‘‘educate

and train students and researchers in evaluation research’’; ‘‘create ties among researcher, policy

maker, and practitioner communities’’) to more far-reaching in scope and immediate feasibility

(‘‘require the use of the evaluation hierarchy in developing and assessing policy’’; ‘‘create indepen-

dent criminal justice research agencies’’).

138 Criminal Justice Review 37(1)