The Corrections Program Assessment Inventory (CPAI) and the evidence-based Correctional Program Checklist (CPC) are tools developed to assess correctional intervention programs, and is used to ascertain how closely correctional programs meet known principles of effective intervention. They are divided into two basic areas: capacity and content.
The capacity area is designed to measure whether a correctional program can properly deliver evidence-based/informed interventions and services for the criminal justice-involved.
The content area focuses on the substantive domains of Offender Assessment and Treatment, and the extent to which the program meets the principles of risk, need, responsiveness and treatment. Despite limitations, there are a number of advantages to this process:

• Criteria are based on empirically derived principles of effective programs.
• All of the indicators included in the CPAI and CPC have been found to correlate with reductions in recidivism.
• Process provides a measure of program integrity and quality; it provides insight into the “black box” of a program, something that an outcome study alone does not.
• Results can be obtained relatively quickly.
• Process identifies both the strengths and weaknesses of a program; it provides the program with an idea of what it is consistent with the research on effective interventions, as well as those areas that need improvement.
• Some recommendations for program improvement can be provided.
• Benchmarking can occur.

Norm Information
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have assessed more than 400 programs nationwide, and have developed a large database of correctional intervention programs. Approximately 7 percent of the programs assessed have been classified as “very satisfactory,” 18 percent “satisfactory,” 33 percent “needs improvement” and 42 percent “unsatisfactory.”
On February 2, 2005, the Department of Corrections completed its CPAI on the Pathfinders program at Oregon State Correctional Institution. Scoring summary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A CPC evaluation was conducted at the Snake River Correctional Facility June 18, 2009, with the following scores:

 

 

 

 

 

 

A CPC evaluation also took place at the program location in Roseburg, Oregon, on November 9, 2006. The assessment process consisted of a series of structured interviews with the program facilitator and program participants. Below is the consensus CPC score for the Changing Offender Behavior program: