NCJ Number
230664
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 68-71
Date Published
February 2010
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines criminal justice system reforms taken by Kansas, Connecticut, and Texas and how the success of these reforms has been affected by the recent financial crisis.
Abstract
The recent financial crisis has resulted in States having to cut funding to programs that have been documented to lowering prison populations and making communities safer. This article examines the efforts of officials in Connecticut, Kansas, and Texas to continue to maintain reforms to their criminal justice systems while dealing with the economic downturn. Officials in Connecticut have opted to continue to fund programs that allow for the prison population to come down, such as diversionary programs, halfway house beds, and probation and parole staffing. Officials in Texas have been able to maintain funding levels for correctional programs and even add additional staff. This has resulted from using correctional practices that are data driven and cost effective. Officials in Kansas, on the other hand, have been forced to cut funding for correctional programs such as therapeutic communities, community-based substance abuse programs, community housing programs, and educational programming. State officials are currently working on ways to save money to restore funding for some of the programs.