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Following on the important launch of the Right on Crime Campaign which I reported to you in my recent Justice eReport, “Conservative Leaders Call for Justice Reforms,” two new reports provide excellent well-researched ideas for reforms that are proven successful. The Council of State Governments and the Smart on Crime Coalition have just released two reports that will be of great help to advocates for justice reform.
CSG Report Highlights Effective State Programs
The Council of State Governments’ report “The National Summit on Justice Reinvestment and Public Safety: Addressing Recidivism, Crime, and Corrections Spending” is a very helpful guide to reforms enacted in the states over the last few years that have successfully reduced the cost of corrections programs while reinvesting the savings into proven ways to reduce recidivism and crime.
The report is literally a recipe book of reforms that have proven effective. It highlights innovation and research on four fundamental strategies for developing cost-effective corrections policies that can reduce recidivism:
- Focus resources on individuals most likely to reoffend.
- Base programs on research and ensure quality.
- Implement effective community supervision policies and practices.
- Apply place-based strategies, i.e. focusing efforts on the particular issues in places where most offenders return.
The report is based on a 2010 summit requested by the U.S. House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee to bring together the nation’s leading corrections and criminal justice experts, researchers and practitioners. In an interview, Prison Fellowship’s Mark Earley made a well-received plea for increased reentry programs and highlighted the important role faith-based organizations can play in preparing prisoners for reentry. The summit was convened by the CSG Justice Center in partnership with the Public Safety Performance Project of The Pew Center on the States; the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice; and the Public Welfare Foundation.
Criminal Justice Reform – A Priority for Both Parties
These reforms covered in the report are the result of bi-partisan efforts to reduce recidivism based on solid research of what works and accurate data about of state and local offender populations and their success rate in safely returning to the community.
“As states look for ways to reduce budgets, this report can provide a blueprint on how to implement corrections strategies in a more efficient and productive way,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who plans to introduce legislation this year to create justice reinvestment grants for state and county governments. “Following this blueprint will help protect public safety and reduce costs.” Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said, “These strategies helped my home state of Texas save nearly a quarter of a billion dollars and identify and improve existing treatment, mental health and diversion programs that led to significant reductions in probationers' and parolees' being returned to prison.”
Smart on Crime - A Bi-Partisan Analysis of the Entire Justice System
Separately, the Smart on Crime Campaign Coalition has released “Smart on Crime: Recommendations for the Administration and Congress” and examines the problems plaguing the criminal justice system, from the creation of new criminal laws to ex-offenders’ reentry into communities after serving their sentences, and offers specific recommendations which range from helping to restore and empower victims to identifying ways to protect the rights of the accused.
The report is a follow up to Smart on Crime 2009, which had a positive but modest impact. To develop the new report the Constitution Project brought together over 50 groups from the left and right to reach consensus on what they could agree are important changes that could be supported across ideological and economic divides. The breadth of issues which were approved by the diverse working groups is testimony to the buy-in across the political spectrum. This wide agreement will give the report far more credibility and it will therefore have a much larger impact than the previous report.
The Smart on Crime report provides a comprehensive analysis of the entire criminal justice system. Read more about the Smart on Crime Report here. Pay particular attention to the chapter regarding victims. Phyllis Turner Lawrence, a restorative justice practitioner and a rape survivor, develops this excellent resource on victims and restorative justice.
Prison Fellowship - Criminal Justice Advocate
Prison Fellowship will expand the number of states in which we are organizing volunteers and donors in support of reforms. Prison Fellowship has been involved in these efforts at the federal and state levels, and will be expanding our efforts into several more states this year. We work to bring together prosecutors, civic leaders, victims, pastors, business leaders, corrections professionals and judges to develop strong support for reforms so that legislators are confident that they can make these reforms without being severely criticized. The Right on Crime campaign I recently wrote about in a recent Justice eReport is an important part of this effort, and will help give “covering fire” to politicians of both parties who support these common sense reforms. For key resources on criminal justice reform and Prison Fellowship’s role, visit us here.
Around the country, policymakers have been calling for innovative approaches in corrections, including many conservative leaders. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich recognized the approach as commonsense: “It's time to end business as usual in our prison system and for legislators to think and act with courage and creativity. We can make sensible and proven reforms to our criminal justice systems’ that will cut prison costs while keeping the public safe.”
I hope you will read these reports and seek ways to implement some of these reforms and programs in your state. And I hope you will share these ideas with legislators, church leaders and other people interested in safer communities at lower cost to the taxpayers. These efforts have truly brought left and right together in a positive way. The lamb and the lion shall lie down together.
In His service,
Pat Nolan
Vice President, Prison Fellowship
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