U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 What Criminal Justice Can Learn From Its Bad Outcomes
NCJ Number
              251507

Author(s)
          James  Doyle;
                        Rianna P. Starheim
Date Published

February 2018
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              This article discusses the rationale for and the features of the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) Sentinel Events Initiative (SEI).
Abstract
              A "sentinel event" is a "significant negative outcome" in the criminal justice system, such as the conviction of a person who is later proven to be innocent of the conviction offense. The SEI involves mobilizing a system-oriented approach in a review process focused on the sentinel event. It supports the local development of a review process in which all actors, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, victims, advocates, and other relevant parties conduct a forward-looking review of a sentinel event for the purpose of identifying and countering system weaknesses that contributed to the sentinel event. In addressing factors that eliminate the need for future compensation and lawsuits, sentinel-event reviews can help mitigate the costs associated with these events and prevent them from recurring. The NIJ recently launched a $1.6 million national sentinel event demonstration project in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance. This project will support state and local sentinel-event review panels across the country. It will assist jurisdictions in learning how to best examine system weaknesses and produce locally tailored solutions to mitigate risk and improve performance.
      
  
          Additional Details
Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Issue Overview
                                Factsheet
    
  
  
Date Published: February 1, 2018
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Crime prevention
        Justice system
        Law enforcement
        Performance measures
        Research



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Investigative Decision-making in Public Corruption Cases: Factors Influencing Case Outcomes
                  Concerns about COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Law Enforcement Officers: Prevalence and Risk Factor Data from a Nationally Representative Sample in the United States
                  Profiles of Risk for Self-injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Among System-Impacted Girls of Color
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov