This report summarizes the goals and activities of Denver's (Colorado) Phases I and II of its Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), with the goal of reducing crime and delinquency through an evidence-based, accountable, and efficient public safety strategy.
Denver has been participating in the JRI since April 2011. Under the direction of the Justice Coordinating Committee (JCC), a Leadership Team for JRI was established as a subcommittee of the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission (CPCC). In Phase I of the JRI, data were collected in order to determine the amount and length of system involvement for the most frequent users of the justice system. During Phase I, a range of both system and community-based stakeholders partnered to further explore and strategically address the frequent users of the justice system. In the JRI's Phase II, a specialty court program was developed for this offender population, so as to address their specific issues. This court provides structure, accountability, and need-related services for repeat offenders. Highlights are provided from the court's first year of operation, with attention to the lessons learned. Building collaboration across agencies was one of the most important aspects of the program.