NCJ Number
244603
Date Published
January 2014
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report provides an overview of justice reinvestment efforts being implemented in Idaho.
Abstract
This report provides an overview of justice reinvestment efforts being implemented in Idaho. State leaders began working with the CSG Justice Center in June 2013 to develop a statewide policy framework that would "decrease spending on corrections and reinvest savings in strategies to reduce recidivism and increase public safety." Using data provided by the Idaho Department of Corrections, the Idaho Commission on Pardons and Parole, the Idaho Supreme Court, the Idaho State Police, and other agencies, and after meeting with key stakeholders, staff from the Justice Center were able to assist State leaders in identifying three key challenges faced by the State's corrections system. These challenges are 1) the State's supervision and diversion programs are not reducing recidivism; 2) an inefficient use of prison space with a majority of the population comprising people whose probation and parole supervision has been revoked; and 3) insufficient oversight - the State lacks a system to track outcomes, measure quality, and assure reliability of recidivism-reduction strategies. The article discusses the justice reinvestment policy framework developed by the work of the Justice Center. This framework includes strengthening supervision practices and programs to reduce recidivism; tailoring sanctions for supervision violations, providing recidivism outcomes at sentencing, and structuring parole to make more productive use of prison space; and assessing, tracking, and ensuring the impact of recidivism-reduction strategies. Using this framework, the article examines the projected impact on recidivism and crime rates, and the expected savings resulting from implementation of these justice reinvestment efforts. 13 figures