Reforming Sentencing and Corrections Policy: The Experience of Justice Reinvestment States

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), 28 states have taken a data-driven approach to criminal justice systems reform, legislating sentencing and corrections policy changes that make smarter use of criminal justice dollars and improve outcomes for individuals and communities. Since 2010, Urban Institute (Urban) has served as the oversight, coordination, and outcome assessment provider for JRI tracking progress of each of the state and local sites that engage in the initiative and conducting targeted assessments of specific state policy reforms. This panel will summarize findings from Urban’s most recent reports. Papers will summarize the JRI process, policy reforms legislated, and preliminary population, savings, and reinvestment outcomes; describe the JRI approach to performance measurement and outcomes to date including a demonstration of the online JRI State Data Tracker; and discuss findings from a series of analyses of specific JRI policy reforms.

Sub Unit

• Area VII. Criminal Justice Policy and Practice / 32. Considering Criminal Justice Policies

Division of Special Interest

• Divisions of Special Interest / Division on Corrections & Sentencing

Individual Presentations

• JRI State Reform Strategies, Preliminary Outcomes, and Lessons Learned - Samantha Harvell, Urban Institute; Jeremy Welsh-Loveman, The Urban Institute

• Documenting Progress: Performance Measurement and the JRI State Data Tracker - Chelsea Thomson, Urban Institute; Samantha Harvell, Urban Institute; Ryan King, Urban Institute

• A Deeper Dive: Assessing Sentencing Reforms in Georgia and Administrative Sanctions in South Carolina - Elizabeth Pelletier, Urban Institute; Ryan King, Urban Institute; Bryce Peterson, Urban Institute

Chair

• Samantha Harvell, Urban Institute

Discussant

• Heather Tubman-Carbone, Bureau of Justice Assistance