Eight Lessons from Moneyball : The High Cost of Ignoring Evidence-Based Corrections

Abstract

Michael Lewis's book, Moneyball, documents the effective use of evidence-based practices by Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics. Lewis shows how Beane's reliance on theoretically relevant statistics and on a scientific approach to baseball allowed him to achieve winning seasons despite being burdened by severe budget constraints. His approach spurred much antagonism in the baseball community because it challenged many long-standing, but ultimately unsupported, practices. In this context, Moneyball provides a useful conduit through which to assess why many correctional agencies are ineffective in the services they provide. In fact, the points of comparison between baseball and correctional practices are striking and warrant careful illumination. Toward this end, we specify eight lessons that corrections can learn from Moneyball and evidence-based baseball.

Keywords:

• evidence-based intervention
• corrections
• rehabilitation