DOI: 10.3886/icpsr35485.v1
title: Santa Cruz Research Partnership, California, 2012-2014
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
This project, The Santa Cruz Research Partnership, was developed to document how one central coast California county probation department adopted evidence based practices (EBP) and whether the adoption of these practices reduced gender and racial/ethnic disparities. To examine how these EBP related changes have affected their department, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) completed three studies for this National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant. Specifically, NCCD: 1) completed interviews with the entire probation department staff to examine how the adoption of EBP affects the daily practices of the probation department, 2) analyzed case management system data to understand how the adoption of a probation violation graduated response grid affected outcomes for probationers, and 3) analyzed case management system data to examine why Latino probationers are more likely to have bench warrants issued against them even though they have statistically significantly lower risk levels.
description: The study assessed three aspects of multiple system reforms in California probation departments: the adoption of Evidence Based Practices by probation officers, changes in response to probation violations subsequent to adoption of a graduated sanctions grid, and racial and ethnic disparities in domestic violence related charges and bench warrants.
description: The study was implemented in the Santa Cruz Adult Probation Department. Qualitative interviews were conducted in person or via phone, and lasted up to two hours. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed or summarized, and coded for common themes. In collaboration with a probation department data analyst, investigators compiled the probation violation data in this release, which was then coded and statistically analyzed.
description: The collection includes two SPSS datasets and one Excel dataset.

Data file NIJ_Probation_Violation_Data_2012.sav (n=154) includes 44 variables on probationer demographics, probation details, and criminal history.
Data file NIJ_Probation_Violation_Data_2014.sav (n=183) includes 44 variables on probationer demographics, probation details, and criminal history.
NIJ_Bench_Warrant_Data_Study_Spreadsheet.xlsx (n=3168) includes 40 variables on probationer demographics, criminal history, and specifically domestic violence history.
description: None.
description: Response Rates: Not applicable.
description: Presence of Common Scales: None.
description: For the study of the adoption of the probation violation sanction grid, NCCD selected the population of all felony probationers who were sent to court because of a violation of probation in June 2012 (n=154) and in June 2014 (n=183). For the bench warrant study, NCCD extracted data for every person on probation who was issued a bench warrant or diverted to an alternative to bench warrant program between January 1, 2012 through July 31, 2012. The EBP qualitative study included the entire adult probation staff.
description: Datasets: 
DS1: Santa Cruz Research Partnership, California, 2012-2014
description: Felony probationers and adult probation officers in Santa Cruz County, California. Smallest Geographic Unit: County
description: face-to-face interviewThese data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.The qualitative data are not available as part of this data collection at this time.