The Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Local Reform Strategies and Lessons Learned

• In Event: Findings from the Urban Institute’s Assessment of State and Local Justice Reinvestment Sites

Abstract

Between 2010 and 2015, 17 localities across the country participated in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Each took a data-driven approach to criminal justice reform, identifying the main drivers of their jail populations and designing and implementing creative policy and programmatic solutions to ensure that resources are utilized efficiently and targeted at the individuals at highest risk of reoffending. This brief summarizes findings from the Urban Institute’s assessment of local JRI work highlighting particularly successful strategies, challenges encountered and keys to successful implementation.

Authors

• Hanna Marie Love, Urban Institute

• Erika Parks, Urban Institute

• Lindsey Cramer, Urban Institute