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Justice Alternatives for Wisconsin: Reducing the Costs of the Criminal Justice System

Explore cost-saving, effective programs for nonviolent offenders. Learn about pre/post-incarceration initiatives, treatment options, and implementation strategies.

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Justice Alternatives for Wisconsin: Reducing the Costs of the Criminal Justice System

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  1. Justice Alternatives for Wisconsin:Reducing the Costs of the Criminal Justice System Presentation to the Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council May 9, 2007 Kate Battiato Callie Gray Patrick Mueller Angela Witt

  2. Presentation Overview • Justice alternatives for nonviolent drug- and alcohol-involved offenders • Program alternatives and implementation options • Focus on cost and recidivism • Implementation options to increase use of alternative justice programs • Recommendations for further study

  3. Incarceration Rates in Midwestern States Source: U.S. Department of Justice

  4. Incarceration in Wisconsin • The Incarcerated Population • More than tripled from 1983-1999 • OWI & drug offenses: 60 percent prison growth 2001-06 • 83 percent of prisoners have an AODA treatment need • Costs of Incarceration • Minimum security prisons: $29,751/ prisoner/year in 2006 • DOC budget over $1 billion and rising • Recidivism • 38.7 percent of all released prisoners are convicted of a new offense within 3 years

  5. Pre-Incarceration Programs • Drug Courts • Cost Savings: $1,000 - $15,000 annually per person (GAO) • La Crosse County Drug Court Program estimates $18,000 annual cost savings per person • Recidivism: Reduction in recidivism varies from 13 – 47 percent • Dane County Drug Court Treatment Program estimates 42 percent reduction in recidivism

  6. Pre-Incarceration Programs • Treatment Instead of Incarceration • Cost Savings:California program saves about $150 million per year • California also avoided building a $500 million dollar prison • Recidivism: Has reduced the number of prisoners incarcerated for drug possession by almost one-third during a time period with a small rise in drug arrests • So far there has been no noticeable increase in recidivism rates, but it is too soon to tell

  7. Effects of Statewide Treatment Instead of Incarceration Notes: 2000 was just prior to implementation of Statewide Treatment Instead of Incarceration Initiative Source: DPA 2006

  8. During Incarceration Programs • Earned Release Program • Cost Savings: About $22,000 per released prisoner; total of about $10 million in first 3 years • Recidivism: Early results promising • Challenge Incarceration Program • Cost Savings: About $39,000 per released prisoner • Recidivism: Similar to that of other releases

  9. Post-Incarceration Programs • Day Reporting Centers • Cost Savings: $1,180 - $9,650 per participant • Recidivism: 11 percent fewer arrests compared to control group • Of those who did recidivate, participants remained arrest free for an average of four months longer

  10. Implementation Options • Increase Treatment, Alternative, and Diversion (TAD) Grants • Community Corrections Act • Statewide Treatment Instead of Incarceration Law • Expand the Earned Release Program and/or Challenge Incarceration Program • Expand Day Reporting Centers • Modify Truth In Sentencing

  11. Conclusions & Recommendations • Conclusion: Alternative justice programs offer as good or better recidivism outcomes at lower costs than incarceration • Recommendations: • Further study • Focus on cost and recidivism • Seriously consider recommending one or more implementation options for adoption by the Legislature

  12. Questions?

  13. Wisconsin Department of Corrections Budget 1991-2006(Adjusted to 1991 dollars)

  14. DOC Budget Trends 1998-2006 and Future Projections

  15. DOC Budget: Trend Analysis Predictions and Executive Budget Proposal 2007-09

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