Evidence-Based Triage in Prosecuting Arrestees: Testing an Actuarial System of Selective Targeting. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neyroud, Peter
• Other Names: Sherman Lawrence W. guest-editor.; Murray Alexander guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: International criminal justice review. Volume 25:Number 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: evidenced-based policing -- triage -- field experiments; Crime -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 364
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567715576173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-5677

Abstract

Growing efforts in the United Kingdom to establish "triage" programs at the police gateway to the criminal justice system have met mixed success. This article reviews the evaluations of these programs, most of which use clinical rather than actuarial models of forecasting risk. Drawing on a recent experiment in diverting low-risk defendants from prosecution in Birmingham, this article suggests the design and implementation of an actuarial approach to risk assessment that would provide an evidence-based triage tool for processing arrestees in police stations.