This Month's Feature

Criminal Justice

Westat researchers study crime, victimization, and prison populations with innovative strategies to address sensitive issues.

Surveying Victims: Can IVR Ease the Burden?

Rape, robbery, assault. Each year the National Crime Victimization Survey asks victims to describe the impact of these crimes and characteristics of violent offenders. Since respondents may be reluctant to report a crime to an interviewer, interactive voice response (IVR) could reduce respondents’ reluctance to report and provide greater accuracy.

Indian Country: Annual Snapshot of Jails

Building off of prior work as the data collection agent, Westat will carry out an annual survey of jails in Indian Country over the next 4 years. Each June, we will gather data on adults and youth held, conviction status, offense, admissions/releases that month, deaths, crowding issues, and jail staffing and training.

Does Justice Corps Do Justice for NYC Young Adults?

The South Bronx and Bedford-Stuyvesant, both areas with high rates of incarceration and poverty, were the initial target areas of the New York City Justice Corps. It’s a program that seeks to empower young adults to improve their personal lives and their communities. Now, 4 years on, Westat employs its evaluation expertise to analyze individual and community outcomes.

News

Westat Staff to Participate in Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

01/17/12

Westat staff will be participating in the 91st annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) to be held January 22-26, 2012. The theme for the meeting is Transportation: Putting Innovation and People to Work.

Continue reading

Bob Fay, Ph.D., Elected AAAS Fellow

01/12/12

Westat Senior Scientist Bob Fay has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Continue reading

Roger Tourangeau, Ph.D., Joins Westat

01/06/12

Roger Tourangeau, Ph.D., has joined Westat as a Vice President. Dr. Tourangeau is an internationally renowned survey methodologist with an extensive research background in statistics and survey research methods. He has authored several books and book chapters, and has published many articles in a wide variety of leading journals.

Continue reading