There has been a growing trend in recent years towards the adoption of evidence-based policy in a variety of fields, including criminal justice. The purpose of evidence-based policy is to guide the activities of organisations based on scientifically verified facts, enabling the development of effective and efficient policies. In this article, we introduce the commitment of the Israel Prison Service (IPS) to the implementation of evidence-based policy by detailing the processes and development of a large-scale research programme in the IPS. We illustrate how the cooperation and commitment of key individuals, including successive IPS Commissioners, have enabled the implementation of evidence-based policy in a hierarchal organisation. Within this context, we demonstrate how human agency is a key factor in the successful implementation of the policy in criminal justice settings. By following the different stages of development and implementation, the example of the IPS also highlights the importance of agencies taking ownership of science. We conclude by arguing that the road to evidence-based policy is a ‘winding road’, highlighting the key turning points that influenced the institutionalisation of the policy in the IPS.

中文翻译：

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循证惩戒政策的曲折之路：以色列监狱管理局的案例研究

近年来，在包括刑事司法在内的各个领域采用循证政策的趋势越来越明显。循证政策的目的是根据科学验证的事实指导组织的活动，从而制定有效和高效的政策。在本文中，我们通过详细介绍 IPS 中大规模研究计划的过程和发展，介绍了以色列监狱管理局 (IPS) 对实施循证政策的承诺。我们说明了关键人物的合作和承诺，包括历任 IPS 专员，如何在一个等级组织中实施基于证据的政策。在这种背景下，我们展示了人的能动性是如何在刑事司法环境中成功实施该政策的关键因素。通过跟踪开发和实施的不同阶段，IPS 的例子也强调了机构掌握科学所有权的重要性。最后，我们认为循证政策的道路是一条“曲折的道路”，强调了影响 IPS 政策制度化的关键转折点。