NCJ Number
244143
Date Published
November 2013
Length
100 pages
Annotation
This guidebook provides information for local governments to use in planning and implementing a justice reinvestment strategy in their communities.
Abstract
This guidebook, developed by the Urban Institute, provides information for local governments to use in planning and implementing a justice reinvestment strategy in their communities. The guidelines were developed in response to local governments' need to reduce costs associated with the criminal justice system. The primary goal of the guidebook is to assist local officials in their efforts to improve cost efficiency through the implementation of justice reinvestment strategies. This second edition describes the steps involved in the justice reinvestment process, the challenges that local may encounter, and examples of how to overcome the challenges. The justice reinvestment approach that is presented in this guidebook is divided into the three stages. Stage 1 of the approach deals with building the foundation in which jurisdictions assess their readiness to engage in justice reinvestment. Stage 2 of the approach deals with the collection and analysis of relevant criminal justice data to examine how criminal justice populations and policy decisions influence system costs. Following the costs analyses, jurisdictions should develop short and long-term strategies aimed at reducing costs while maintaining or improving public safety. Stage 3 of the approach deals with the implementation of the strategies developed in the previous stage. During this time, jurisdictions should also develop a plan to document the savings and improvements to public safety that is associated with each new strategy. The final section of the guidebook includes a set of recommendations for sustaining the justice reinvestment process. Figures, tables, notes, and appendixes