Case Studies
Expand data collection metrics.
States reduce barriers for law enforcement to participate in NIBRS
Washington State collects data to address gaps in victims’ service
Iowa works with service providers to meet victims’ underserved needs
States improve reporting on demographic data for arrests
Enhance data sharing to improve public safety.
North Carolina creates a database to share information across criminal justice agencies
States report on the extent to which people on supervision contribute to crime
States make data more accessible
Improve the identification of people who have behavioral health needs in the criminal justice system.
Ohio establishes a standard definition of serious mental illness for criminal justice systems
Implementing Crisis Intervention Team Training in Ohio
California develops guidelines for counties on sharing behavioral health information
Ensure that a range of behavioral health treatment and service options are available within jails and prisons and in the community for people in the criminal justice system.
Jurisdictions establish crisis centers to reduce jail overcrowding and increase connections to community-based treatment
North Dakota invests in treatment to improve the quality of services and expand the service provider workforce
Rhode Island develops approach to preventing drug overdoses
Massachusetts launches pilot program to improve outcomes for people in the criminal justice system
Increase the effectiveness of treatment and support services to improve public safety and health outcomes.
States establish training standards for treatment providers serving people in the criminal justice system
Pennsylvania uses performance-based contracts to reduce recidivism
North Carolina revamps treatment funding and delivery
Strengthen collaboration between behavioral health and criminal justice agencies at the state and local level.
Pennsylvania establishes Mental Health and Justice Advisory Committee and Criminal Justice Advisory Boards
Arkansas improves infrastructure to track behavioral health data
Support collection and analysis of jail data.
Texas requires the identification of people who have mental health needs
Florida sets standards for data collection and transparency
Texas counties collaborate to improve data collection and sharing
Washington State uses data to assess impact of policy changes on counties
Adopt policies that improve pretrial decisions and reduce burdens on jails.
Validating risk assessments improves outcomes
States support local use of risk assessment
New Jersey pretrial reform reduces statewide jail population
States authorize use of citations in lieu of arrests
Texas supports local assignment of counsel at first appearance
Ensure that local law enforcement agencies use evidence-based policing strategies to combat violent crime.
Oregon hosts annual Problem-Oriented Policing Conference
Washington State recognizes financial benefits of hot-spot policing
Advance violent crime reduction efforts by improving trust and cooperation between communities and police.
Washington becomes the first state to require formal review of policing practices
New Haven Police Department implements community-based policing
Grant and outreach workers help bring community policing to rural Kentucky
Seattle Police Department uses community surveys to track and improve trust
Provide law enforcement officers with the necessary tools and resources to respond to the needs of their communities.
Georgia develops statewide CIT curriculum
Portland Maine Police Department improves responses to people who have mental illnesses
New Mexico becomes the first state to require police use of naloxone
Utah provides funding to law enforcement agencies for naloxone programs
Mental health/criminal justice partnerships in Oklahoma create statewide specialized response training
Wisconsin improves standards and training for officer wellness
Expand recidivism tracking to include the probation population.
Strengthened probation practices in Arizona improve public safety and reduce spending
Use measures that permit more timely analysis in addition to cohort-based measures.
States use more timely measures to track recidivism events
Set recidivism-reduction goals for people leaving prison and people on probation.
Massachusetts uses recidivism-reduction goals to target resources
Iowa targets recidivism-reduction efforts to people most likely to reoffend
Design policies to support the statewide use of risk and needs assessments.
North Carolina uses risk and needs assessments to determine supervision intensity
States use risk and needs assessments to address criminogenic needs
Ohio creates statewide risk assessment database to reduce redundancy
Establish quality-assurance practices for the use of risk and needs assessments.
Hawaii updates scoring and staff training
Pennsylvania uses RAQI to improve use of risk and needs assessment
Rhode Island uses quality assurance practices to improve the use of risk and needs assessment
Establish caseload sizes that allow supervision officers to focus resources on people who are most likely to reoffend.
States focus supervision resources on people most likely to reoffend
States set caseload size goals and hire additional officers as needed
Jurisdictions develop strategies to supervise people at a low risk of reoffending
States update supervision term limits
States permit earned discharge from supervision
Improve supervision workforce practices, such as hiring, training, and evaluation.
State leaders support training efforts
Provide supervision officers with tools to respond swiftly and appropriately to the behavior of people on supervision.
States use incentives and sanctions to respond to behavior on supervision
Connecticut provides enhanced supervision for specialized probation caseloads
States update technology used by supervision agencies
Use programming and treatment that works to reduce recidivism.
Iowa and Illinois prioritize use of effective programs
States establish measures to improve quality of programs
Idaho overhauls programs after in-depth assessment
Ensure sufficient availability of treatment and programs.
States invest in programs needed to reduce recidivism
Nebraska improves collaboration between treatment providers and corrections agencies
Kansas adds peer support specialists and recovery coaches to probation offices
Reduce barriers to employment.
States adopt practices to increase coordination between correctional, labor, and employment agencies
Employment program provides jobs and services
California provides state identification to people leaving prison
Wisconsin’s Integrated Reentry and Employment pilot site improves efforts to prepare people for the workforce and reduce recidivism
Florida pilots Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies to reduce recidivism and improve job readiness
Reduce barriers to housing.
New York forbids housing discrimination based on a criminal conviction
States limit liability for landlords
Jurisdictions implement supportive housing initiative
Analyze prison and supervision population trends to understand how they are driving costs.
Missouri develops policies to address drivers of prison population growth
Rhode Island changes supervision policy to reduce prison admissions
Revise sentencing practices to prioritize prison space for people convicted of serious and violent offenses.
Indiana updates penalties in the criminal code
South Carolina sentencing and corrections reforms save millions
Promote success on supervision and use proportionate responses to respond to violations.
Idaho and Nebraska establish matrices to respond to behavior on supervision
States reduce use of incarceration for technical violations
Michigan provides programming and training to people who have violated probation
Improve the efficiency and consistency of the parole decision-making process and preparation for release.
Idaho requires people convicted of property and drug offenses to be released near initial parole release date
Alabama develops structured approach to parole release decisions
Texas invests resources to reduce parole delays
Identify funding priorities and allocate resources accordingly.
States reinvest in strengthening supervision
States reinvest millions to expand access to behavioral health treatment
States evaluate the impact of state policies on counties
States reinvest in supporting victims of crime
Oklahoma reinvests in effective law enforcement strategies to reduce crime
Regularly evaluate how to fund public safety priorities.
States commit millions in upfront investments
Pennsylvania law drives a formula for calculating prison savings and reinvestments
Louisiana mandates reinvestment strategy
Colorado improves public safety through community development
Leverage federal resources to drive innovation.
Illinois leverages federal funds to serve historically underserved victims of crime
States enhance victim compensation programs
Ensure that state agencies have the capacity to collect performance measures.
Justice Reinvestment states build data capacity to improve data collection
States improve infrastructure to track behavioral health data
Establish responsibility for reporting and monitoring results.
States establish responsibility for performance monitoring
Educate stakeholders, policymakers, and the public to maintain momentum.