Corrections

Health Disparities
commentary
Incarceration Rates: A Key Measure of Health in America
Carolyn E. Miller, Douglas Yeung @DouglasCYeung
Apr 3, 2020
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health blog
There's widespread agreement that incarceration has adverse effects on health and health equity, not just for prisoners but also for families and communities. That's one important reason why incarceration in the United States needs to be reduced.
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Residential Housing
essay
Supportive Housing Can Help Keep People with Mental Illness Out of Jail
Feb 27, 2020
Hundreds of thousands of people with serious mental illnesses cycle in and out of American jails every year. In Los Angeles, some of them are getting diverted into a supportive housing program where they can get the treatment they need. And the results are promising.
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Politics and Government
blog
State of the Union 2020: Insights from RAND
Feb 5, 2020
The final State of the Union address of President Trump's four-year term may be viewed through the lens of the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the evening. But the speech touched on a range of policy challenges that will remain, regardless of how politics play out in 2020.
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Iran
blog
Iran, Mental Health and Jail, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 10, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on Iran and Iraq following the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, supporting those experiencing mental illness in jails, Russia's hostile measures, and more.
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Suicide
blog
Veterans, Autonomous Vehicles, Digital Protests: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 8, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on preventing veteran suicide, who's responsible when a car is hacked, how digital protests can affect Fortune 500 companies, and more.
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Prisoner Reentry
essay
A Novel Approach to Helping People Returning from Prison
Oct 30, 2019
Many services try to address the needs of individuals returning from prison, but they're often designed without much input from the very people who need the services. A group of county agencies, service providers, and former prisoners collaborated to identify ways to improve reentry services in Los Angeles.
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Opioids
blog
Synthetic Opioids, Mass Shootings, Prison Education: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 30, 2019
This weekly recap looks at fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, how to address mass shootings, higher education in prison, and more.
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Mental Health Treatment
blog
Inmate Suicides, India and Kashmir, Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 16, 2019
This weekly recap looks at preventing inmate suicides, India and Kashmir, improving health care for veterans, and more.
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Gun Violence
blog
Gun Policy, Cannabis, ISIS: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 9, 2019
This weekly recap looks at gun policy in America, the cannabis market in Washington state, countering an ISIS comeback, and more.
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Cybersecurity
blog
Data Breaches, Correctional Security, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 2, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on how consumers respond to data breaches, new security challenges facing correctional institutions, how fentanyl is changing the opioid crisis, and more.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
North Carolina Program Helps Former Prisoners Make It on the Outside
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis, Michelle C. Tolbert
Jul 11, 2019
The News & Observer
To avoid the all-too-common fate of ending up back in prison, incarcerated adults need skills and credentials they typically don't have. Helping them overcome the challenges of reentry is a net gain for them and for the communities to which they return.
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Postsecondary Education
blog
Iran, Prison College Programs, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
May 24, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on Iran's nonstate partners, lessons from a prison college program, what a fentanyl ban in China means for the U.S. opioid crisis, and more.
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United States
blog
State of the Union 2019: Insights from RAND
Feb 6, 2019
To shed light on a wide range of topics that figured in President Trump's second State of the Union address, we've rounded up insights from some of RAND's objective and nonpartisan research, analysis, and expertise.
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Legal Case and Court Management
commentary
Terrorism on Trial: The Problem of Prosecuting International Jihadists
Antonia Ward
Mar 9, 2018
Georgetown Security Studies Review
The International Criminal Court may be the most ideal institution to try accused terrorists. The court would take into account the legal status of terrorists, the nationalities of their victims, and the location of the crimes — while upholding the core values of Western democracies.
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Sentencing
commentary
The Intersection of Algorithms and an Individual's Rights
Dan Grunfeld
Sep 29, 2017
Daily Journal
Data collection, and our reliance on it, have evolved extremely rapidly. The resulting algorithms have proved invaluable for organizing, evaluating and utilizing information. How do individuals' rights come in to play, when data about their lives is compiled to create algorithms, and the resulting tools are applied to judge them?
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Drug Courts
commentary
Should California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Robert J. MacCoun
Jul 20, 2017
San Francisco Chronicle
Californians have a lot to consider when it comes to decriminalizing possession. But now is the time for a rigorous discussion about removing criminal penalties for drug possession, rather than rushing to judgment in the heat of a future election season.
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Prison Reform
commentary
UK Prisons Are in 'Crisis,' So What Can Be Done to Improve Performance?
Emma Disley
Feb 20, 2017
Criminal Law and Justice Weekly
Prisons in the UK are experiencing record numbers of suicides and other violent incidents, as well as staff shortages. Policymakers working on prison reform need more effective ways to measure the performance of prison programs.
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Data Science
commentary
No Company Should Be Able to Keep You from Checking Your Government's Math
Brian A. Jackson
Jan 18, 2017
Inside Sources
Data and computer models are becoming more and more important for making policy decisions on everything from prison sentences to tax bills. But citizens should be able to “check the math” on decisions that affect them.
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Prison Reform
commentary
The Pendulum Swings Back: Support for Postsecondary Education in Prison
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Dec 15, 2016
The RAND Blog
Correctional educational programs can reduce incarceration costs and recidivism. But it's critical that former inmates can connect with reentry services in the community to complete their education.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
Counties Need to Help Parolees Access Health Care
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis, Susan Turner
Nov 23, 2016
San Francisco Chronicle
Health needs can be big challenges for former prisoners seeking to reenter communities. But recent policies in California promise to reduce that barrier.
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Drug Courts
commentary
Drug Dependence: Treatment Over Incarceration
Matthew Davies, Emma Disley, Kristy Kruithof
Oct 3, 2016
Criminal Law & Justice Weekly
Drug dependence imposes significant costs to society and traditional criminal justice responses like imprisonment do not reduce crime. More quality research on alternative sanctions could help police, prosecutors, and judges expand their options while helping users get treatment.
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United States
blog
A Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 2, 2016
To help Hill staffers make the most of the Congressional recess, RAND has developed a list of must-read research and commentaries that will help ensure policymakers will return ready to hit the ground running.
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Public Sector Pay for Performance
commentary
Does Intervention or Investment Innovate? Social Impact Bonds at the Close of the Peterborough Prison Pilot
Emma Disley, Chris Giacomantonio
Jan 25, 2016
The RAND Blog
There is limited evidence to support the assumption that social impact bonds offer a particularly effective way to spur innovation in service provision and will only have beneficial effects.
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Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Oregon Standoff Shouldn't Have an Anti-Terrorism Twist
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jan 13, 2016
Slate
Dwight and Steven Hammond were charged under a law enacted to fight terrorism, not rein in wayward ranchers. Anti-terrorist laws should not be used to strengthen prosecutors' hands in nonterrorist prosecutions—it makes national security needs look like an instrument of oppression.
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United States
blog
State of the Union 2016: Insights on Obama's Last Address
Jan 13, 2016
RAND research, analysis, and expertise provide context for many of the issues discussed in President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address, including the threat of ISIS, global climate change, and bringing peace to Syria.
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Prisoner Reentry
essay
The Case for Correctional Education in U.S. Prisons
Jan 3, 2016
Inmates who participate in any kind of educational program behind bars are up to 43 percent less likely to reoffend and return to prison. They also appear to be far more likely to find a job after their release.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
What's Next on the Convicted Terrorist's Timeline?
Michael A. Brown
Nov 4, 2015
The Hill
As inmates near the end of their sentences for terrorism-related offenses, and with some individuals already freed, it's time to explore what considerations may be necessary.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
Obama Commutes Sentences of 46 Drug Offenders. Now for the Hard Part
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Aug 10, 2015
The Tampa Tribune
Last month, President Obama commuted more sentences in a single day than any president since Lyndon Johnson. But commutation doesn't erase a criminal conviction.
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United States
blog
The 2015 Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 5, 2015
With Capitol Hill slowing for August recess, this list of must-read research and commentaries will help ensure that policymakers are ready to dive right back in this fall.
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Crime
commentary
El Chapo's Prison Escape Should Come as No Surprise
Scott Savitz
Jul 24, 2015
Fox News Channel
Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel and similar criminal organizations have long used tunnels to literally undermine security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Alcohol
commentary
Could You Lose Your License to Drink?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jun 23, 2015
CNN
Criminal justice reform requires creating demand for bold ideas about simultaneously reducing incarceration and crime. Given the prominent role alcohol plays in crime — and the strong results from South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety program — suspending one's “license to drink” seems well worth considering.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
Different Countries, Different Ways of Countering Terrorism
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins, Jean-Francois Clair
Mar 2, 2015
The Hill
France and the United States follow different approaches in dealing with terrorist suspects. This divergence reflects differences in the threat, historical experience, law, available resources, and public attitudes. France faces a more serious terrorist threat than the U.S. does.
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Immigrants and Emigrants
commentary
Prior Removal and Recidivism
Laura J. Hickman, Jennifer S. Wong, Marika Booth, Laura Patton
Dec 11, 2014
The RAND Blog
President Obama's executive action on immigration includes a new program that targets immigration enforcement at those arrested for more serious offenses and those deemed to be risks to national security. Research shows that unauthorized immigrants who have been previously deported are more likely to be rearrested after jail release, so local public safety interests and federal immigration enforcement priorities may well align around immigrants with a record of prior removal.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
Using Education to Stop the Prison Revolving Door
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Sep 30, 2014
AL.com
Providing education and vocational training to inmates is a cost-effective way to reduce recidivism rates, thus shrinking prison populations and easing the strain on prison budgets. Education is far less expensive than incarceration.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
The State of Washington and Its Focus on Rehabilitation
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Sep 16, 2014
Zocalo Public Square and TIME
California can learn a great deal from the state of Washington, which has implemented a series of reforms focused on rehabilitation--on diverting offenders to treatment and other options and making serving time in prison the last option.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
If You Want Ex-Cons to Be 'Productive Members of Society,' Ban the Box
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Sep 5, 2014
The Cleveland Plain Dealer
When an inmate is released, you often hear Americans say that he's 'paid his debt' and can now become 'a productive member of society.' But the reality is ex-cons pay for their crimes long after sentences end. On the outside, the stigma of incarceration makes it extremely difficult to land a job.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
Sending Prisoners to College Will Save You Money
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis, Jennifer L. Steele
Apr 11, 2014
Newsday
Correctional education works for states because it saves money and shrinks prison populations. It works for prisoners, the public, law enforcement, and the judicial system because educated prisoners are less likely to return to their criminal ways once released.
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commentary
California's Misguided Approach
Katherine E. Watkins
Mar 17, 2014
Orange County Register
Despite the frequency with which people are convicted of multiple DUI offenses, California continues to require that all individuals with a DUI attend a 30- or 60-hour education program. However, these programs aren't that effective.
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Affordable Care Act
commentary
Medicaid Access for the Formerly Incarcerated Under the ACA: Helping the Oft-Forgotten
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Oct 3, 2013
The RAND Blog
America's prison population tends to be sicker than the general population. While Medicaid eligibility under the ACA offers an historic opportunity, enrolling the formerly incarcerated into the health exchanges or Medicaid will be neither simple nor straightforward.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
To Stop Prisons' Revolving Door
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Sep 16, 2013
Los Angeles Times
If California wants to reduce its prison population, it needs to address recidivism, and the best way to do this is through education and job training. Cutting education and vocational training may seem like a tempting way to plug short-term budget gaps, but it actually ends up costing the system more over time.
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Drug Courts
commentary
New Approach to Prison and the War on Drugs
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Aug 13, 2013
BBC.co.uk
If you want to reduce cocaine consumption and drug-related crime, you get more bang for the buck if you put money into treatment rather than paying for the increase in incarceration produced by federal mandatory minimum sentences, writes Beau Kilmer.
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Sentencing
commentary
Advancing Social Outcomes: Private Investors Could Be Part of the Solution
Jennifer Rubin, Emma Disley
May 14, 2013
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
Under a Social Impact Bond, private investors — rather than the government — provide up-front funding for programs that tackle such challenges as recidivism or homelessness. If these programs succeed, the government pays some of the savings back to the investors.
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Prisoner Reentry
announcement
Lois Davis's Prisoner Re-Entry Work Earns Recognition from California Assembly
Jan 23, 2013
RAND congratulates senior policy researcher Lois Davis, whose work on the public health consequences of prisoner re-entry in California earned RAND the 64th Assembly District's AB 109 Re-Entry Award.
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Prisoner Reentry
blog
Prisoner Reentry and Public Health: Is Your State Ready?
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Jul 3, 2012
Lois M. Davis, senior policy researcher, discusses the unique health needs of prisoners re-entering the general population and the role that health plays in their successful re-integration.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
A Final Word on the NDAA
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
May 7, 2012
Foreign Affairs
While I have no doubt of Levin's determination to protect the constitutional rights of American citizens, incremental adjustments and seemingly small compromises, each sensible under the circumstances, can have a cumulative effect that erodes the very liberty we are trying to protect, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
The NDAA Makes It Harder to Fight Terrorism
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Feb 1, 2012
Foreign Affairs
Much of the debate over this bill has focused on the political issue of executive authority versus rule of law. In doing so it has overlooked the indirect and insidious effects the new law may have on the United States' largely successful counterterrorist campaign, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
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Health Care Costs
commentary
California's Prisoner Shuffle
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Aug 19, 2011
Los Angeles Times
The state needs to deal with prison overcrowding and inadequate medical care for prisoners in ways that don't simply transfer the burden to county criminal justice systems and the healthcare safety nets of local communities, writes Lois Davis.
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Incarceration
commentary
Prison as Indoctrination Center
Arturo Munoz
Apr 26, 2011
NYTimes.com
The Taliban view incarceration foremost as a means to attract new recruits and enhance the jihadist resolve and ideological purity of their own members, writes Arturo Munoz.
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Recidivism
commentary
Can Gitmo's Terrorists Be Rehabilitated?
Aidan Kirby Winn
Jun 29, 2009
The Christian Science Monitor
Before he closes Guantánamo, Obama must take a clear-eyed look at the record – and anticipate the next chapter of the fight against terrorism. What happens to terrorist suspects after they leave the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, writes Aidan Kirby Winn.
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Prisoner Reentry
commentary
Prison Health Care
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Jul 12, 2007
San Diego Union-Tribune
Prison Health Care, in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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commentary
Focus on the Worst Ex-Cons and Boost Community-Based Rehab
Andrew R. Morral @AndrewMorral
May 27, 2007
Riverside Press-Enterprise
Focus on the Worst Ex-Cons and Boost Community-Based Rehab in Riverside Press-Enterprise
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