NCJ Number
242188
Date Published
April 2013
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This Vera Institute Policy Brief describes and draws lessons from Delaware's model for re-orienting the use of imprisonment only for high-risk offenders and reinvesting the cost savings in corrections practices that have proven their effectiveness in reducing recidivism and holding offenders accountable.
Abstract
The Vera Institute of Justice is working with Delaware in advancing its efforts under the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which is a project sponsored by the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Delaware's participation in the JRI began in 2011, when Governor Jack Markell established the Delaware Justice Reinvestment Task Force. The task force conducted a comprehensive examination of the factors contributing to the size of the corrections population, both pretrial and sentenced individuals. The Vera Institute worked with the task force in developing a policy framework for addressing drivers of the corrections population and to ensure that scarce justice resources are used to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. Policy recommendations were incorporated in Delaware Senate Bill 226. Among other changes, the legislation mandates implementation of an objective risk assessment instrument to guide magistrates in their decisions about pretrial release and sentencing. The legislation supports improved community supervision practices and creates incentives for those who are incarcerated and under supervision to complete evidence-based programs designed to reduce recidivism. Strong bipartisan efforts produced a near-unanimous passage of the legislation, which was signed into law on August 2012. Delaware's recent work is relevant not only to other States, but also to local jurisdictions, which typically are responsible for jail populations and community-based supervision. 1 figure and 21 notes