On April 5th, the Harm Reduction Caucus, the Progressive Caucuses, the Black and Latino Caucus, and the Women’s Caucus Taskforce on Justice Involved Women co-hosted a legislative briefing on efforts to improve the pretrial process in Massachusetts. Commissioner Dolan and Chief Justice Dawley provided updates on work at the Probation Department and the Trial Court,
Highlights from The Third Annual Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Policy Summit
The MassCJRC Journal
Last Friday, over 200 leaders gathered for the Third Annual Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Policy Summit. Kevin Burke, a coalition co-chair and former Secretary of Public Safety, kicked off the summit by noting that this year’s convening held special significance. Massachusetts is entering a crucial phase of reform with the Council of State Governments conducting a
Harnessing the Power of Data for Justice Reinvestment in Massachusetts
Data are increasingly the lifeblood of an effective criminal justice system. Modern technology allows agencies to collect and exchange high-quality, actionable information. These data help frontline workers make informed decisions that reduce risk. And they provide managers and policymakers with vital information for the optimal allocation of resources. The fifth installment in our Justice Reinvestment Policy
Mounting an Evidence-Based Criminal Justice Response to Substance Abuse and Drug Offending in Massachusetts
Solutions to better treat and manage substance abuse are paramount to an effective Justice Reinvestment strategy. Too many residents suffering from substance use disorder continue to enter the criminal justice system, which struggles to help these individuals recover from a life-threatening disease. For many offenders, un- or undertreated substance abuse aggravates anti-social behavior and lengthens
Reducing Youth Recidivism Isn’t Rocket Science, It’s Brain Science
This past Tuesday MassINC convened leading criminal justice experts and policy makers at the State House for a conversation on our new report examining strategies to reduce recidivism by responding to the developmental needs of justice-involved young adults. The new MassINC research finds residents ages 18 to 24 are the most likely demographic to find
Ben Forman Op-Ed: With prison reform, Mass. must take steps to reduce recidivism rates
The MassCJRC Journal
IN THE STATES The Young Lawyers Division of the New Jersey State bar Association is helping resolve outstanding legal issues for former prisoners. A veto override gives even more former felons in Maryland the right to vote. (Baltimore Sun) A bill is approved by the Wyoming Senate Judiciary Committee which, if passed, would grant
Reducing recidivism
Criminal justice reform leaders from Massachusetts gather to examine strategies
Last week, MassINC gathered at The Boston Foundation with criminal justice reform leaders from Massachusetts and beyond to examine strategies to reduce recidivism. The public forum coincided with the release of new MassINC research estimating that repeat offenders make up more than two-thirds of defendants committed to state and county prisons in Massachusetts each year.
Massachusetts digs in on justice-reinvestment
The MassCJRC Journal
Massachusetts state leaders have launched a data-driven “justice reinvestment” approach to develop a policy package for the 2017 legislative session that curbs corrections spending and shifts resources into strategies to reduce recidivism and increase public safety. Twenty-four other states have carried out this data-driven approach, with intensive technical assistance from The Council of State Governments
Reducing Recidivism in Massachusetts with a Comprehensive Reentry Strategy
More than two-thirds of defendants sentenced to state and county prisons in Massachusetts have had prior incarcerations, according to new analysis presented in this policy brief. Comprehensive change is necessary to reduce this elevated level of repeat offending and improve public safety. The third installment in a series exploring various components of reform, this paper
Perspectives on Leadership for CJ Reform from CT Gov. Dannel Malloy
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy headlined a Kennedy School forum this week to press his case for serving young adults differently in the US criminal justice system. Focusing strategically on justice-involved young adults to reduce recidivism was the topic of a recent MassINC policy brief, as well as a report issued last fall by the Kennedy School’s Program