Randomized experiments in correctional context: legal, ethical, and practical concerns.

Abstract Increased concern with rights of prisoners and a growing interest in evaluative research that uses experimental design have led to renewed efforts to overcome ethical, legal,and practical concerns involved in the use of randomized experiments in correctional context. The article surveys the difficulties that issues of equal treatment, “just deserts,” and presumed and relative deprivations may present in the use of randomization in a criminal justice setting and discusses ways to overcome the problems or mitigate the resultant harm. Practical concerns are also presented and discussed.

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