How Embedded Data Analysts Are Transforming State Corrections Systems

While corrections agencies across the country collect vast amounts of data and make significant investments in data management systems, many lack the staff time and resources to effectively translate this information into actionable insights or use data to make compelling cases to policymakers and the public about the importance of their work. The Resident Analysts (RA) program, launched in 2023 by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, is addressing this critical gap.

Initially piloted in 4 states, the CSG Justice Center embedded skilled data analysts within departments of corrections at no cost to the agencies. These corrections departments—California, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Wyoming—were selected from 27 applicants nationwide to participate in this innovative initiative, and the results have transformed how DOC leaders use data to set key performance indicators to improve system outcomes, make important operational decisions, respond to policymakers, and improve safety in facilities.

Louisiana: Enhancing Case Processing and Reporting Efficiency

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDPSC) leveraged their embedded analyst to improve tracking of case processing and generate timely reports. The analyst played a crucial role in testing and validating the agency’s new Corrections Information Program and Records System, which determines release dates and parole eligibility.

The analyst developed five pre-classification dashboards that address specific reporting needs, providing leadership with prompt access to key performance indicators and positioning the agency for more informed decision-making.

Melanie Gueho, director of data and research at LDPSC, noted the immediate operational benefits: “The project completed by the RCA provides LDPSC management with real-time analytics of the cases being processed by parish, as well as staff-level indicators to assist with training and reallocation of work where needed. In addition, there are visualizations that allow us to see the process intervals which include our partnering agencies that assist management with decision-making regarding where training may be needed or when other actions might be needed to improve efficiency.”

West Virginia: Modernizing Performance Tracking for System-Wide Improvement

The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDCR) received six months of analyst support focused on streamlining the process for generating monthly performance indicators. The analyst developed standardized data collection processes and built two user-friendly, centralized dashboards that provide real-time insights into various aspects of operations, including facility performance, health care, assaults, employee recruitment and retention, and contraband detection.

Patrick Mirandy, chief of staff for WVDCR, described the operational transformation: “Previously, the WVDCR executive team and our staff had to call up our research office to request reports or dig through emails to find old reports. Now, we all have our most important performance metrics right at our fingertips, which helps us when we are questioned by our lawmakers on how we are doing with retention and recruiting. Not only does this save a lot of time, it also has really helped our staffing efforts.”

Wyoming: Transforming Data into Safety Solutions

The Wyoming Department of Corrections (WYDOC) received a full year of embedded analyst support, with a focus on developing comprehensive data visualization platforms that integrate information from multiple sources into interactive dashboards. The analyst created five detailed dashboards covering critical metrics including demographics of incarcerated people, recidivism rates, health care use, disciplinary actions, and program effectiveness.

Scott Abbott, prison administrator with the WYDOC, highlighted the tangible impact: “I was grateful to work with our RCA in Wyoming. The dashboards she built identified trends in critical incidents, and together we found patterns that helped me manage the safety and security of our facilities; namely the ability to track assault rates so remedial actions could be taken.”

Beyond the dashboards, the analyst developed detailed metrics inventories and fused and standardized information across multiple systems, creating a sustainable foundation for future analysis and reporting.

California: Bridging Public Health and Public Safety

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) embedded an analyst within the California Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH) to support their groundbreaking Public Health Meets Public Safety (PH/PS) framework. This first-of-its-kind initiative compiles and presents relevant data across multiple public systems to help state and local leaders use data to reduce the number of people with behavioral health needs in the criminal justice system, and CCJBH needed help sustaining and growing the tool.

The analyst developed 20 protocols for retrieving, cleaning, and standardizing data in the PH/PS dashboard and established quality assurance mechanisms. Additionally, the analyst created use-case scenarios demonstrating how stakeholders can leverage the data to identify priorities and develop effective policies.

Brenda Grealish, executive officer of the CCJBH at CDCR, emphasized the strategic importance of this work: “The RA program was a really important part of California’s efforts to look at behavioral health investments as public safety investments. The resident analyst was able to provide the key bedrock to our public health/public safety dashboards, which are now in great shape for policymakers and local leaders to rely on for their planning activities.”

Building a Foundation for Data-Driven Corrections

Across all four sites, the RA program has demonstrated how even short-term, limited injections of additional analytic capacity can enhance corrections systems operations and give corrections leaders meaningful tools. By developing sustainable dashboards, standardizing data processes, and transferring knowledge to agency staff, the program has created lasting infrastructure for data-driven decision-making.

Earlier this year, the RA program was folded into the Advancing Data in Corrections initiative, where it continues its mission to help agencies build data infrastructure, enhance transparency, identify trends, and improve resource allocations.