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State policymakers are grappling with a unique combination of public safety challenges, including upticks in violent crime, the opioid epidemic, people who have mental illnesses in the justice system, high rates of recidivism, and the high cost of corrections, all while trying to improve services for victims and increase opportunities for people returning to communities from jail and prison. To tackle these issues, more than 30 states have partnered with the CSG Justice Center to use the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI).
JRI is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts and utilizes criminal justice, behavioral health, and other reentry experts from the CSG Justice Center to
- Collect data that is often siloed and under-analyzed to spotlight the most pressing trends and drivers of crime, recidivism, and costs;
- Meet with a range of stakeholders and assess statutes, policies, and current practices;
- Deliver findings and recommendations to state leaders and stakeholders in clear, compelling, and actionable presentations;
- Help address implementation challenges once changes are adopted; and
- Establish an ongoing data monitoring process.
States receiving technical assistance from the CSG Justice Center
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Arkansas policymakers have long expressed concerns about the state’s high recidivism rate.…
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On March 9, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a $460 billion spending…
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In May 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a sweeping public safety…
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On April 6, 2023, the New Hampshire Governor’s Advisory Commission on Mental…
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The new initiative will place data analysts in residence at state departments…
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