National Institute of Justice Releases "Paving the Way: Lessons Learned in Sentinel Event Reviews"

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Office of Justice Programs' National Institute of Justice (NIJ) today published the agency's latest research on the viability of using sentinel event reviews as a way to learn from errors in the criminal justice system. This publication examines the process of sentinel event reviews that were undertaken in three pilot sites; Baltimore, Md., Milwaukee, Wis., and Philadelphia, Pa., and describes lessons learned from those experiences. In April 2014, NIJ selected the sites to help explore the viability of conducting a review of a sentinel event. The subsequent report serves as a companion piece to NIJ's Mending Justice: Sentinel Event Reviews, published last year. The report is available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249097.pdf

A sentinel event is a negative outcome — for example, a wrongful conviction or an erroneous release from prison — that signals a possible weakness in the system or processes. NIJ is exploring whether a non-blaming, culture-changing practice can lead to increased system reliability and legitimacy. NIJ's Sentinel Event Initiative borrows extensively from medicine, aviation, and other high-risk fields that have successfully used sentinel event reviews to improve outcomes.  More information on the Initiative is available at: http://nij.gov/topics/justice-system/Pages/sentinel-events.aspx

WHAT: Paving the Way: Lessons Learned in Sentinel Event Reviews

WHO: The National Institute of Justice

WHERE: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249097.pdf

About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking.  More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov