Assessing the Impact and Outcomes of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy on Its Graduates and Their Agencies

Abstract

Abstract Jails play a vital role in the criminal legal system, with millions of Americans processed through them annually. Jails face numerous exigent challenges and need leaders capable of addressing day-to-day operations and emergent situations. Despite this necessity, jails struggle to identify, fund, and offer leadership development opportunities for their staff. The National Jail Leadership Command Academy (NJLCA), a program designed to prepare emerging leaders for a successful transition into senior leadership positions, was evaluated to assess how the NJLCA impacts its graduates and their agencies. The current study is the first empirical evaluation of a jail leadership development program, using the Kirkpatrick evaluation typology. Structured interviews with 49 jail leaders from 41 agencies across the U.S. produced rich qualitative data for content analysis using the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. Respondents identified numerous examples of how their agencies’ NJLCA graduates apply what they learned at the NJLCA to improve their job performance and achieve organizational goals, revealing a positive, multidimensional impact of the NJLCA.