Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
Use of data-driven decision-making among agencies serving individuals with criminal-legal system involvement: a
Maji Hailemariam1, Rochelle K Rosen2, Rodlescia Sneed3
1Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, 200 East 1 st St Room 366, Flint, MI, USA. debenama@msu.edu.
Background:
Data-driven decision-making is an implementation strategy to improve system performance and health outcomes for individuals with substance use and mental health needs interacting with criminal-legal systems. We currently have limited understanding of how agencies define and use data in their decision-making processes. A qualitative study was conducted with agency leaders from jails, probation and parole, and community mental health and substance use service agencies to characterize (1) how respondents defined data and data use, (2) current level of data use for decision-making, (3) data capacity needs, and (4) agency perspectives on best practices and their recommendations.
Methods:
In-depth interviews were conducted with 68 mental health, substance use, jail, and probation leaders from a representative group of 52 U.S. counties from December 2020-March 2022. Data were analyzed using applied thematic analysis.
Results:
Four themes emerged. For defining data and data use, respondents characterized their current level of data use as rudimentary. In terms of current level of data use, individual-level health or legal information needed to coordinate services, and risk prediction scores were used over system measures. Data capacity needs identified as capacity to track and share data across agencies and inadequate data management. In terms of best practices and agency recommendations, participants highlighted the need for data sharing, standardized data management systems, data dashboards, and in-house data expertise.
Conclusion:
Findings from this study highlight the limited capacity of counties to implement data-driven decision making in mental health, substance use, and criminal legal settings. Addressing gaps in infrastructure, staffing, and data expertise will require technical assistance and targeted policy incentives. System-level metrics and benchmarks, such as the cascade of care, are essential for evaluating cross-agency performance and improving outcomes for individuals with mental health needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Decision Making: Traditional Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
01:20Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can...
01:03Drug Control Governance: Regulatory Bodies and Their Impact
01:03Data Validation
Nursing assessment guides are generally based on holistic models rather than medical...