The Power of Data: Data-Driven Justice Solutions

• NCJ Number: 250128
• Date Published: July 2016
• Length: 16 pages
• Agencies: OJP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance; Report (Technical Assistance); Program/Project Description

Annotation

The U.S. Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center reports on its fiscal year 2015 accomplishments in working with communities to disseminate and build the knowledge base for "what works" in criminal justice and public safety.

Abstract

Keeping science and data at its core, the Center expanded the technical assistance it provided to the justice community. Its support of the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice enabled the Center to meet the diverse needs of six new communities. In addition, the Center increased Federal and nonprofit partnerships by 45 percent. The Center's Diagnostic Specialists continued to provide their expertise in crafting data-driven solutions that ranged from peer-to-peer exchange to many training programs. They also provided support for the development of comprehensive, cross-system community safety strategies. The Center's collaborative approach has brought together key community players and decisionmakers to identify data-driven solutions for creating safer communities. Based on data collection and analysis, the Center has promoted strategic communications, crime analysis, problem-oriented policing, proactive policing strategies, cross-agency information sharing, and interagency collaboration. In order to illustrate its data-driven approach to countering crime, a case study is presented of a strategy for responding to domestic and intimate partner violence. Framing opportunities for sentencing reform through data is also described.