The Kansas Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Analyzing the effects of graduated sanctions on probation outcomes

• In Event: The impact of santions and incentive in community corrections programming

Abstract

This study analyzes the effectiveness of Kansas House Bill 2170. The Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) enacted graduated sanctions—immediate and short terms of incarceration for probationers’ technical violations—to increase compliance among probationers and ultimately reduce recidivism. Using data from the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Sentencing Commission, for fiscal years 2014 to 2017, this study tests whether the use of graduated sanctions affects the likelihood of violations and recidivism among felony probationers. Major findings and policy implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Mario Cano, University of Texas at El Paso

• George Ebo Browne, Kansas State University

• Travis C. Pratt, University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute

• Jillian Turanovic, Florida State University