Community Resources For Justice Inc

DESPITE STATES POURING MORE FUNDS INTO THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES REMAIN POOR – EVIDENCED BY THE HIGH RECIDIVISM RATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MINIMAL IMPACTS ON CRIME REDUCTION. THIS, IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HAS PROMPTED STATES TO EXAMINE THE UTILITY OF THEIR CORRECTIONS INVESTMENTS. THIS INQUIRY REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY COSTLY AREAS OF INEFFICIENCY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO REINVEST IN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES. THE JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE (JRI) MODEL PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR STATES TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE RESOURCES ARE BEING DIRECTED WITH LITTLE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TO POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THIS MODEL IS REQUISITE TO EQUIP STATES WITH THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MAKE DATA-DRIVEN POLICY DECISIONS BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY TO TRANSFORM THESE DECISIONS INTO LAW AND PRACTICE THROUGH BI-PARTISAN ENGAGEMENT AND STATEWIDE EDUCATION. THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE (CJI) AT CRJ BRINGS THE EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE SUCH ASSISTANCE.         BUILDING ON PRIOR SUCCESSES AS A JRI PARTNER, CJI PROPOSES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TWO STATES AS PART OF THIS AWARD. THE SUCCESS OF JRI LIES IN (1) BIPARTISAN, INTER-BRANCH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, (2) EFFECTIVE USE OF DATA TO INFORM DECISIONS, AND (3) IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT WITH THE ABILITY TO MEASURE ONGOING PERFORMANCE. IN PHASE I, CJI WILL SELECT AND PREPARE STATES, CONDUCT A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY DRIVERS OF COST AND REALLOCATION OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDE EDUCATION ON RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE POLICIES TO ADDRESS JRI GOALS, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR POLICY ENACTMENT INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY IMPACTS AND COST PROJECTIONS. IN PHASE II, CJI WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING, WILL SUPPORT EFFORTS TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF POLICY CHANGES, AND WILL MANAGE AND MONITOR SUBAWARD FUNDING AWARDED TO STATES. CJI WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE STATES TO BUILD INTERNAL CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT THE REFORMS AND SUSTAIN THEM AFTER THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ENDS.         WITH A TRACK RECORD OF PROVIDING SUCCESSFUL JRI TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 14 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING EVIDENCE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN POLICIES, MANAGING COMPLEX PROCESSES WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, AND DRIVING SYSTEMS-LEVEL ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, CJI IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO CONTINUE ADVANCING THE JRI MODEL.

JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE: NATIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE PROJECT TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH JUSTICE REINVESTMENT

DURING THE FIRST DECADE OF THE JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE (JRI), STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS SAW IMPROVEMENT ON CERTAIN METRICS. PRISON POPULATIONS DECLINED. ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION EXPANDED IN THE FORM OF PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT-PROVIDER COLLABORATIVE INTERVENTIONS. AND CRIME CONTINUED TO DECLINE. HOWEVER, THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FORCED MAJOR CHANGES TO THE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE POSITIVE TRENDS. FURTHER, SURGES IN CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME, THE MEDIAS FOCUS ON HIGH PROFILE CRIMES, AND INACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES STRAINED THE PUBLICS CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO KEEP THEM SAFE. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, JRI CONTINUES TO BE A VITAL MECHANISM FOR STATE POLICYMAKERS TO IMPROVE THEIR SYSTEMS. JRIS FOUNDATIONS OF DATA ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ENABLE STATE LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SYSTEMS AND ENGAGE IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT WHERE DATA, RATHER THAN ANECDOTES, DRIVES OUTCOMES. MOVING FORWARD, THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE (CJI) PROPOSES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TWO STATES THROUGH PHASE I AND PHASE II ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, CJI WILL CO-OPERATE THE JRI ASSESSMENT CENTER TO MAKE ASSISTANCE MORE ACCESSIBLE, ADDRESS TARGETED ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY STATES, AND PREPARE STATES FOR A FULL JRI ENGAGEMENT. JRI PAVED THE WAY FOR STATES TO REDUCE ITS COMPLEXITY BY FOCUSING ON DATA, SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND KEY DECISION-POINTS TO SOLVE AN ARRAY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. BECAUSE OF JRIS ADAPTABILITY, EXPECTED OUTCOMES DIFFER BASED ON STATES GOALS. THESE CAN INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, INCREASING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OPTIONS TO DIVERT PEOPLE FROM THE SYSTEM AND SUPPORT OTHERS WHO ARE JUSTICE-INVOLVED, IMPROVING PRETRIAL DECISION-MAKING, EASING REENTRY FOR PEOPLE LEAVING INCARCERATION, AND REDUCING PRISON AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION POPULATIONS AND REALLOCATING SAVINGS TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES.

LOCAL AND TRIBAL JUSTICE REINVESTMENT

RESTRICTIVE HOUSING REFORM IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM INGEORGIA, HAWAII, AND KENTUCKY

THE PROJECT TEAM WILL SUPPORT CURRENT OJJDP JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM AND REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE GRANTEES IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BASED ON RESEARCH DESIGNED TO REDUCE CONTACT WITH THE YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES. PROJECT ACTIVITIES ARE ORIENTED AROUND FIVE CORE OBJECTIVES: (1) ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, (2) ANALYZING DATA AND IDENTIFYING DRIVERS, (3) DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE OR RESEARCH-BASED RESPONSES, (4) IMPLEMENTING RESPONSES, AND (5) MEASURING OUTCOMES. THIS INCLUSIVE APPROACH WILL UPLIFT LIVED EXPERIENCE EXPERTS AND FACILITATE A MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THAT COULD HAVE A POSITIVE AND LONG-LASTING IMPACT FAR BEYOND THE SPECIFIC PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO SUPPORT YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. ONE OF THE KEY PARTNERS, JUSTICE FOR FAMILIES, IS AN ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM. JUSTICE FOR FAMILIES WILL SUPPORT KEY ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE GRANT, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING LOCAL LEADERS TO SUPPORT EACH STATE PROJECT AND ENSURING THAT YOUTH, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY VOICE ARE A PART OF ALL WORK IN THE GRANT.

OJJDP FY 2017 SMART ON JUVENILE JUSTICE: SYSTEMWIDE REFORM AND REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPROVEMENT AND RECIDIVISM REDUCTION THROUGH THE STATE-LEVEL JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE (JRI)

A PERSISTENT PROBLEM FACING PRETRIAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE ARE FAILURES TO APPEAR FOR SCHEDULED COURT HEARINGS. FAILURES TO APPEAR TRIGGER A RESOURCE-INTENSIVE PROCESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER COURT COSTS, LONGER CASE PROCESSING TIMES, INCREASED FEES, AND SEVERE SANCTIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES AND POOR COMMUNITY SAFETY OUTCOMES. THE NEGATIVE RESULTS OF FAILURES TO APPEAR OFTEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT RACIAL MINORITIES AND CAN COMPOUND EXISTING DISPARITIES. THE FIELD’S UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ISSUE IS EXPANDING, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY GAPS IN RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICE. AS A RESULT, CURRENT INTERVENTIONS HAVE LIMITED IMPACT ON FAILURES TO APPEAR AND CAN EXACERBATE THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES. THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE (CJI), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES, MICHAEL WILSON CONSULTING, AND TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, PROPOSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BY CREATING AN INNOVATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND IMPACTED PEOPLE TO INCREASE COURT APPEARANCE RATES, REINVEST COSTS, MITIGATE CONSEQUENCES TO INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, AND REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES. THE PROJECT AIMS TO ACCOMPLISH THREE OBJECTIVES LISTED IN THE FY2022 FIELD INITIATED: ENCOURAGING INNOVATION RFP: OBJECTIVE 1: ACCELERATE JUSTICE AND ENHANCE CAPACITY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LEADERS TO REDUCE RATES OF INCARCERATION AND RACIAL DISPARITIES (50% OF BUDGET) OBJECTIVE 2: IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY BUILDING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, INCREASING ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND IMPROVING FAIRNESS ACROSS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM (25% OF BUDGET) OBJECTIVE 3: INSTITUTIONALIZE INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (25% OF BUDGET) THE PROGRAM WILL BUILD ON KNOWN BEST PRACTICES AND PROMISING STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALLY EVALUATED IN SOME CAPACITY, BUT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED FOR IMPACT IN COMBINATION. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE FOUR COMPONENTS: 1) AUTOMATED COURT REMINDERS; 2) SERVICES SUCH AS ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULING, AND NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM; 3) NOTIFICATIONS WITH NEXT STEPS AFTER MISSED COURT DATES; AND 4) AMNESTY PERIODS WITH VIRTUAL COURT HOURS TO RESOLVE NONAPPEARANCES BEFORE A WARRANT IS ISSUED OR A NEW CHARGE IS FILED. TO CREATE THE PROGRAM AND MEET THE OBJECTIVES, THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROGRAM DESIGN, TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR STAKEHOLDERS AND STAFF, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT AND DATA COLLECTION, PROGRAM ASSESSMENT AND FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, AND PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION. THE MODEL WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TARRANT COUNTY, AND ANYONE RELEASED ON PRETRIAL SUPERVISION WILL BE ELIGIBLE. PROGRAM AND ASSESSMENT MATERIALS WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR REPLICATION.

THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE (CJI) PURPOSE IS TO HELP COMPETITIVELY SELECTED JURISDICTIONS IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS; IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH UNDER COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND REDUCE ADMISSIONS TO CONFINEMENT AS A RESULT OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION/PROBATION VIOLATIONS; REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY. TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY SUPERVISION TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IS CHALLENGING. JURISDICTIONS CAN BENEFIT FROM TARGETED, CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM FOR YOUTH ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND YOUTH RETURNING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES FOLLOWING CONFINEMENT, WHILE PROMOTING THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND ADVANCING PUBLIC SAFETY.

SUBSTANCE USE AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR RETURNING INDIVIDUALS - THE BRIDGE RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER (BRCC) WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS (COD) PEER SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADULT MEN AND WOMEN LIVING IN THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT, CT, AND SURROUNDING AREAS, AS WELL AS THOSE RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY FROM INCARCERATION. FROM 2009-2018, CONNECTICUT’S RATE OF OPIOID-INVOLVED MORTALITY HAS BEEN AMONG THE FIVE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, WITH THE RATES OF OPIOID-INVOLVED FATAL OVERDOSE SECOND ONLY TO NEW YORK STATE. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE INCIDENCE OF OPIOID-INVOLVED FATAL OVERDOSES IN CONNECTICUT (CT) INCREASED BY 350%, AND THE RATE OF SYNTHETIC OPIOID DEATHS INCREASED BY 126%. AMONG CT RESIDENTS WHO DIED OF OPIOID OVERDOSE FROM 2007-2019, LATINO OVERDOSE RATES INCREASED FROM 5.7 TO 21.6 PEOPLE PER 100,000. AFRICAN AMERICANS ALSO HAD A DRAMATIC INCREASE, FROM 4.8 TO 18.7 PER CAPITA (NIDA, 2019). IN 2019, CT DROPPED TO SEVENTH IN THE NATION FOR RATES OF DRUG OVERDOSE AT 34.7 DEATHS PER 100,000 (NCHS, 2021). THE LATEST DATA REFLECTS A DECLINE IN THE RATE OF PRESCRIPTION OPIOID AND HEROIN OVERDOSES BEGINNING IN 2018. HOWEVER, THE RATE OF FATALITIES INVOLVING SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, PARTICULARLY FENTANYL DRAMATICALLY INCREASED FROM 2012-2018. BRCC PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WILL MEET WITH CLIENTS TO ENGAGE THEM IN TRAUMA-INFORMED RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. OUR EVIDENCE-BASED PEER SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH ARE BASED ON THE RECOVERY ORIENTED SYSTEM OF CARE MODEL, WILL PROVIDE INTEGRATED SERVICES WITHIN THE CRJ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM. BRCC WILL PROVIDE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, ON-SITE HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION, ACCESS TO NARCAN, FENTANYL STRIPS, HIV/HEP C EDUCATION, HIV TESTING, HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL/EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, AND CONNECTIONS TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS PRIMARY CARE. BRCC WILL ALSO WORK WITH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE BRIDGEPORT REENTRY ROUNDTABLE, AND STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM, ASSESS QUALITY AND ACCESS, AND WORK ON SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS. THE OVERALL GOALS OF BRCC ARE TO IMPROVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SUPPORT OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE BRIDGEPORT AREA. BRCC WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE, REDUCE RECIDIVISM, INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, INCREASE EMPLOYMENT, AND INCREASE SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING FOR THIS HIGHLY VULNERABLE POPULATION.

CRI-TA

REDUCING THE USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SEGREGATION PROJECT

CRI-TA