Connecticut Contractor Data Collection System

Connecticut Contractor Data Collection System

Since 2007, CJI has been working with the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) of the State of Connecticut's Judicial Branch to implement and expand its Contractor Data Collection System (CDCS). CDCS is designed to enhance the Division’s ability to use empirical evidence to support data-driven decision making. CDCS is an innovative data system that collects client-level treatment and other data. This data, when combined with the Division’s Probation, Bail and Family Services data and arrest information allows for unique opportunities for ongoing quality improvement at the system, program and client levels, and for rigorous evaluation of CSSD’s internal and contracted programs.

CJI assists CSSD in business analysis, CDCS site design specific to each of CSSD’s community-based programs, report development, data quality assurance, and rollout, training and technical assistance with providers. The technical assistance to community providers includes not only the use of CDCS, but the interpretation and use the information collected to improve program operations and outcomes.

CJI is also involved in the CSSD’s Risk Reduction Program. In October 2009, CJI worked collaboratively with CSSD to implement a system and a process to measure on a quarterly basis those processes and outcomes most connected to the principles of risk reduction as identified in the correctional research literature. More simply, this Risk Reduction Indicator process answers two questions: How well is the Division and its programs doing on those process measures most linked to reduction of recidivism? Are CSSD’s clients better off as a result? CJI works with CSSD management, staff, and contracted providers to identify a core set of program-specific indicators, to carefully define the indicators, to design reports, and to review, interpret and use the data each quarter to take actions to improve programmatically.