Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 159 - Department of Community Correction › Rule 159.00.06-001 - AR 1.9 - Research and Program Evaluation

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
AR 1.9
RESEARCH AND PROGRAM
		  EVALUATION
I.
APPLICABILITY.
This policy applies to all Department of Community
		  Correction (DCC) employees and people outside the agency who request and
		  conduct research.
II.
POLICY.
The Department of Community Correction supports programs
		  of research, evaluation, statistics, audit, and planning, including studies and
		  evaluation of the performance of various functions and activities of the
		  department and studies addressing treatment of offenders and programs.
		  Researchers must protect the privacy of individual employees, offenders, and
		  other involved parties and their records. Researchers must comply with agency
		  policy guidance and all legally acceptable practices concerning research
		  activities. (4-ACRS-7D-12; 3-3110, 3-3113, 3-3116)
III.
GUIDELINES.
A.
The DCC Management
will
		  encourage research and evaluation activities and cooperate with qualified
		  outside groups such as colleges, universities, public groups and qualified
		  individuals.
B.
All
		  Employees
will cooperate with approved research efforts and bring to the
		  attention of management any research activity that may adversely affect
		  offenders.
C.
Research Plan
		  Requirement.
A research plan is required unless one of the following
		  exceptions applies:
1. Employees Conducting
		  Research. Research proposals are not required when employees perform research
		  activities within the normal scope of their job duties.
2. Employees Conducting Program Evaluation.
		  When employees collect data for DCC approved reports (such as the Residential
		  Jurisdiction Population report) or approved business systems (such as eOMIS or
		  AASIS), a research plan is not required.
D.
Research Plan Development /
		  Implementation.
1. Researchers must
		  work with the DCC official designated by agency policy as responsible for
		  research activities and other designated staff to decide what questions should
		  be addressed, the data to be gathered, and how the data will be presented.
		  Researchers must submit proposed research plans for review and
		  approval/disapproval of the DCC using forms required by the agency. Research
		  plans must meet or exceed the review criteria outlined in agency policy.
		  Changes to an approved research plan must be pre-approved by the DCC. This
		  includes any research design modifications or changes in scope, data collected,
		  or the tools to be used in the collection of data. Researchers must follow
		  approved plans. The DCC will request review and approval by the appropriate
		  Deputy Director. The DCC will consider comments/approvals, negotiate
		  appropriate revisions, and will be the final approval authority for the
		  plan.
2. The Department of
		  Community Correction is responsible for establishing requirements for
		  evaluation.
E.
Protection of Offenders Involved in Research Projects
1. Participation. Offender participation in
		  research will be voluntary. Prior to participation in any research activity,
		  researchers must obtain a completed Inform and Consent to Participate in
		  Research form provided by DCC and signed by each offender involved in the
		  project. This form is not required when research is limited to review of
		  offender records or general observations are made of offender activities where
		  no record is made of a specific offender's activity.
2. Restrictions. The department will not
		  conduct nor allow others to conduct medical, pharmacological, or cosmetic
		  experiments involving offenders, excluding individual treatment of an offender
		  (based on need) by means of a specific medical procedure not generally
		  available. If an offender's physician determines there is a need to treat the
		  offender with a new medical procedure, it will be through an agreement between
		  the offender and the physician with a full explanation of the positive and
		  negative aspects of the treatment. Offenders may participate in other research
		  activities only when the research does not place the participant at undue risk.
		  (4-ACRS-4C-20)
F.
Review, Approval, and Dissemination of Research Results
1. Researchers. Prior to publication or
		  dissemination, researchers must submit a draft of internal/external research
		  results to the DCC and obtain the Director's approval.
2. DCC will ensure that all research project
		  results are reviewed by appropriate Deputy Director and others and will forward
		  reviewed results to the director with a recommendation to approve, disapprove,
		  or approve with specific revisions.
3. Researchers are responsible for the
		  dissemination of their findings to the public and shall provide copies of their
		  reports upon request to any person or entity requesting a copy.
4. Researchers shall provide at least four
		  (4) copies of any publication derived from the research to the Department of
		  Community Correction for retention and internal distribution.
Board Approval Date: 5/18/06
Reference: Secretary of State
Rule Code 159.00
Effective Date: 6/19/06