Corrections

New Analysis Shows Major Reductions in Crime and Recidivism in States That Have Used Justice Reinvestment Initiatives

May 8, 2025

According to a new analysis from the CSG Justice Center, the 44 states that have participated in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) saw, on average, a 38 percent drop in crime rates between 2008 and 2023. These same states also decreased their recidivism rates, on average, by 10 percent.¹

While it’s difficult to attribute outcomes to any single policy change, these results show that data-driven, bipartisan changes are benefiting state criminal justice systems without compromising public safety.

Launched in 2010 and supported by Congress, JRI has helped 44 states use data to understand challenges related to crime, substance use, mental health, and recidivism. JRI has also enabled states to invest in effective supervision, treatment programs, and victim services that reduce incarceration and promote safer, healthier communities.

As states continue to face complex public safety challenges, JRI’s proven approach equips policymakers with the information and tools needed to meet these challenges head-on—ensuring that policies are informed, cost-effective, and responsive to the needs to people in the justice system and victims of crime.

To read more about JRI and learn about what states are doing to strengthen public safety, improve behavioral health, and optimize government resources, access the JRI Fact Sheet or view Justice Reinvestment Initiatives by State.

Sources

“Advancing Fair, Effective, and Efficient Criminal Justice Strategies,” Justice Reinvestment Initiative, November 30, 2023, https://justicereinvestmentinitiative.org/.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center, “Justice Reinvestment Initiative (Fact Sheet),” CSG Justice Center, March 4, 2025, https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/fact-sheet-the-justice-reinvestment-initiative/.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center, “50 States, 1 Goal: Examining State-Level Recidivism Trends in the Second Chance Act Era,” CSG Justice Center, June 6, 2024, https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/50-states-1-goal/.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center analysis of Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program data from 2008 to 2023.

[1] Forty-four states have participated in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative at different times over this period. Statistics were calculated by comparing crime and cohort recidivism rates from 2008 compared to those rates in 2023. Below are the years when states enacted JRI policy changes:

2007: Kansas, Nevada

2008: Arizona, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

2009: Illinois, Wisconsin

2010: New Hampshire, South Carolina

2011: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio

2012: Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania

2013: Kansas, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia

2014: Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi

2015: Alabama, Nebraska, Utah

2016: Alaska, Maryland

2017: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island

2018: Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma

2019: Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania

2020: Vermont

2021: Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee

2022: Pennsylvania

2023: Montana, Nebraska

Authors

Lahiz Tavárez

Project Manager, State Initiatives

Lahiz Tavárez administers the CSG Justice Center’s internal data management system and oversees internal data collection and reporting processes. As part of her role, she develops and implements systems and process guidance to improve internal data tracking and communicates that

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information to staff through consistent resource development and leading of staff trainings. Additionally, she works on projects centered on risk and needs assessment communication and implementation guidance. In previous roles at the CSG Justice Center, Lahiz developed networks of community services for people returning to the community after incarceration, provided technical assistance to recipients of Second Chance Act grants, supported projects centered on improving risk communication in corrections and reentry of people convicted of sexual offenses, and worked to expand the Reentry Services Directory. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, she interned at the New York State Assembly as a legislative assistant, as well as with Albany County’s Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center (CVSVC), acting as a victim advocate at Albany Criminal Court on behalf of CVSVC, and at SUNY Albany’s University Police Department (UAPD), also participating in UAPD’s Advisory Committee. Lahiz received a BA in criminal justice from SUNY University at Albany and is completing her MA in forensic psychology at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

David D'Amora

Senior Policy Advisor, State Initiatives

David D’Amora advises on risk and needs assessment, correctional programming, and the intersection of behavioral health and criminogenic needs. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, David worked in the criminal justice and behavioral health fields for more than 30

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years. This included serving as the vice president of agency programs for a community-based agency providing multiple types of correctional and behavioral health treatment to formerly incarcerated people under community supervision. David was also a clinician at Somers State Prison and Meriden-Wallingford Hospital in Connecticut as well as a consultant with a national criminal justice technical assistance provider. A licensed professional counselor and certified forensic counselor, David earned his BA from Franklin College and his MS at Butler University.