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Justice Reinvestment: pitfalls and possibilities. Is Justice Reinvestment Needed in Australia? 2 August 2012 Todd R. Clear Rutgers University. Justice Reinvestment. Treat all correctional costs as “pubic safety investments” Deemphasize confinement
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Justice Reinvestment: pitfalls and possibilities Is Justice Reinvestment Needed in Australia? 2 August 2012 Todd R. Clear Rutgers University
Justice Reinvestment • Treat all correctional costs as “pubic safety investments” • Deemphasize confinement • Effectiveness literature (high and low risk) • Deterrence studies (length of stay) • Invest savings in high-incarceration places • Public safety • Infrastructure • Community quality of life
Three Kinds of Justice Reinvestment • Justice Reinvestment through Policy Analysis • Justice reinvestment through local incentives • Justice Reinvestment through private sector bonds
JR in Policy Analysis • Analyzes flow in and out of prison • Identifies key decision points to be targeted • Front-end strategies (diversion) • Back-end strategies (recidivism) • Develops plan to change flow rate • Projects savings • Reinvests savings
JR Through Local Incentives • Create fiscal incentive to keep cases locally • Jail vs. Prison • Use of cost “formula” • Directly fund local structures that keep people locally by attaching funds to people • Two types • State-operated pay-through • Private sector incentives
JR Through SIBs • Government offers “Social Investment Bonds” • Bonds specify recidivism targets • Bonds specify target populations • Private companies mount programs • Program recidivism outcomes determine bond payout
JR Focus on Reducing Recidivism • Risk: dealing with the top of the tail • Less then one-third of the cases; maybe much less • Making policies that “ignore” bottom of tail • Criminogenic needs: individual assessments • Limited (or no) generic programming • Purposeful program assignment • Evidence-based programs
JR Focused on Prevention • Community-based programs • Strengthen social infrastructure • Support families and children • Create economic activity • Promote health and safety • Evidence-based • Target social capital rather than risky individuals
Pitfalls of JR • Recidivism oriented strategies have low ceiling • Meta-analysis • Risk level limitations • Programs that “fit” (responsivity) • Effect size: 20-40% reduction • Money savings get snatched up • Police get in line • Funding state services not local infrastructure • Funding community surveillance strategies • Not much political support for “doing nothing”
Possibilities of JR • Move money from prison system to community partners • Follow principles of Risk and Needs • Build proven community prevention programs • Implement policies that reflect public safety with low risk cases • Implement “effective programs” with high risk cases