Evidence-based legislation (EBL) refers to the practice of using the best available scientific evidence and systematically collected data in the formulation and drafting of laws by legislatures.
Rooted in the broader movement towards evidence-based practices,[1] EBL incorporates various elements such as evidence gathering, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, stakeholder assessments, expert input, cost-benefit analyses, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
The conference highlighted that legislation concerning sex offenders often gets passed in response to public sentiment and fear, neglecting the need for rational policy deliberation and assessment of potential consequences.
The emergence of evidence-based legislation as a recognized concept is a recent phenomenon, with scant references in legal or academic literature until contemporary times.
The notion of evidence-based legislation also appeared in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times on March 11, 2007, titled "The new American witch hunt," authored by Richard B. Krueger, M.D.