Publications on Courts and Corrections

2019

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  Higher Education Programs in Prison: What We Know Now and What We Should Focus On Going Forward August 28, 2019

  Lois M. Davis

  Having a college education is necessary to compete for many jobs, and the stakes for ex-offenders are higher than for others. This Perspective summarizes research on the effectiveness of educational programs in reducing recidivism and lessons learned from one state's experience in providing college programs to incarcerated individuals. Focusing on the Second Chance Pell Experimental Sites Initiative, it outlines key issues to address.

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  Caseload Standards for Indigent Defenders in Michigan: Final Project Report for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission August 26, 2019

  Nicholas M. Pace, Dulani Woods, Shamena Anwar, Roberto Guevara, Chau Pham, Karin Liu

  In 2017, the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) asked the RAND Corporation for assistance in determining maximum caseload standards for providers of indigent legal representation to adult defendants in the trial-level courts of Michigan. This project conducted three data collection efforts to provide an empirical foundation for these standards. The authors present recommended caseload standards based on analysis of the collected data.

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  Forensic Familial and Moderate Stringency DNA Searches: Policies and Practices in the United States, England, and Wales August 12, 2019

  Tepring Piquado, Carl F. Matthies, Lucy Strang, James M. Anderson

  Forensic DNA databases help solve crimes after the investigative trail has gone cold. Familial DNA and moderate stringency searches are logical extensions in cases where there is no exact DNA match, but these methods are not widely used. The authors present evidence from current practices in the United States, England, and Wales to support policymakers as they make decisions on the use and effects of familial and moderate stringency search.

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  Forensic DNA Surveillance Tool August 12, 2019

  Tepring Piquado, Carl F. Matthies, Lucy Strang, James M. Anderson

  This tool shows criminal justice policymakers how state policies affect the size and racial composition of forensic DNA databases. Users can view current state policies or change inputs and assumptions to see how database composition is impacted.

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  Countering Threats to Correctional Institution Security: Identifying Innovation Needs to Address Current and Emerging Concerns July 31, 2019

  Joe Russo, Dulani Woods, John S. Shaffer, Brian A. Jackson

  This report presents challenges and needs associated with threats to correctional institution safety and security, including violence, contraband, and compromised staff members. In light of the ongoing challenges the corrections sector faces in countering these threats, RAND researchers convened an expert workshop to better understand the challenges and identify the high-priority needs associated with threats to institutional security.

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  Los Angeles County Office of Diversion and Reentry's Supportive Housing Program: A Study of Participants' Housing Stability and New Felony Convictions July 25, 2019

  Sarah B. Hunter, Adam Scherling

  Los Angeles County is home to the largest jail system in the world and has one of the most acute homelessness problems in the United States. This report presents early interim findings about an initiative that provides housing coupled with case management: Six-month and 12-month housing stability rates were 91 percent and 74 percent, respectively, and of the cohort placed in housing more than a year ago, 14 percent had new felony convictions.

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  Fostering Innovation to Respond to Top Challenges in Law Enforcement: Proceedings of the National Institute of Justice's 2018 Chiefs' Panel on Priority Law Enforcement Issues and Needs July 22, 2019

  John S. Hollywood, Sean E. Goodison, Dulani Woods, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Brian A. Jackson

  An expert panel of law enforcement leaders identified challenges facing law enforcement today; their priorities are presented in this report. Panel members reported feeling that the challenges were tractable but that addressing them will take concerted and collective effort across the criminal justice community, including stakeholders from local communities, social service providers, vendors, and researchers.

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  Evaluation of North Carolina's Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education Program May 22, 2019

  Lois M. Davis, Michelle C. Tolbert

  RAND researchers conducted an independent evaluation of the Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education Project. This report focuses on the North Carolina Pathways Program, for which researchers examined the implementation of the in-prison and community components, the experiences of Pathways students and staff, factors that facilitated or hindered their participation in the program, and lessons learned.

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  Prosecutor Priorities, Challenges, and Solutions April 18, 2019

  Daniel S. Lawrence, Camille Gourdet, Duren Banks, Michael G. Planty, Dulani Woods, Brian A. Jackson

  State and local prosecutors face an ever-increasing array of challenges and responsibilities, including handling, storing, and using growing bodies of evidence generated through modern technology. In March 2018, the Priority Criminal Justice Needs Initiative convened an expert panel to identify priority needs and solutions for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the prosecutorial component of the criminal justice system.

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  Managing the Seriously Mentally Ill in Corrections April 2, 2019

  John S. Shaffer, Joe Russo, Dulani Woods, Brian A. Jackson

  Some jurisdictions are making great strides with respect to how the criminal justice system deals with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), but significant challenges and opportunities remain. This report presents the results of an expert workshop convened to identify the needs associated with how individuals with SMI become justice-involved and how to achieve better outcomes before and after they come under correctional control.

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  Holistic Representation: An Innovative Approach to Defending Poor Clients Can Reduce Incarceration and Save Taxpayer Dollars — Without Harm to Public Safety January 11, 2019

  James M. Anderson, Maya Buenaventura, Paul Heaton

  Holistic defense is an innovative and promising approach to defending poor clients in criminal cases, and this brief summarizes the first large-scale empirical evaluation of the impact of holistic representation on criminal justice outcomes.

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  Drug Offences: Assessment of Guideline June 25, 2019

  Alex Sutherland, Matthew Davies, Jose P. Sanchez, Ian Brunton-Smith

  Using data collection exercises in the Crown and magistrates courts, researchers helped identify whether sentencing outcomes for drug and theft offences changed after new guidelines came into force, and examined factors affecting sentencing practice.

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  Estimates of Law Enforcement Costs by Crime Type for Benefit-Cost Analyses April 19, 2019

  Priscillia Hunt, Jessica Saunders, Beau Kilmer

  This paper generates state-level, crime-specific, average variable cost estimates for crime-response services conducted by police by crime type.

2018

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  Local Evaluation Report for Los Angeles County's Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) Program September 7, 2018

  Sarah B. Hunter, Maya Buenaventura, Matthew Cefalu

  In 2015, Los Angeles County was awarded a grant to improve outcomes for individuals suffering from mental health disorders who are returning to the community after incarceration. RAND researchers evaluated the program in terms of improvement in participants' mental health and substance use status, health care insurance status, benefit establishment, housing stability, and criminal justice involvement.

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  Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2016–2017 Report August 8, 2018

  Terry Fain, Susan Turner, Nima Shahidinia

  California's Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act provides funds for counties to offer evidence-based programs for high-need juvenile probationers and at-risk youths. This report evaluates the program on statewide and county measures. It also compares system costs for program youths in the six months before and after entering a program.

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  Building a High-Quality Correctional Workforce: Identifying Challenges and Needs August 7, 2018

  Joe Russo, Dulani Woods, George B. Drake, Brian A. Jackson

  Correctional staff must protect the public from those convicted of crimes and prepare convicted people for successful, law-abiding lives in the community through the reentry process. It is thus critically important for the corrections sector to develop a high-quality workforce. This report presents the results of an expert panel discussion focused on identifying and prioritizing ways to address workforce concerns in the corrections sector.

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  Does Providing Inmates with Education Improve Postrelease Outcomes? A Meta-Analysis of Correctional Education Programs in the United States July 3, 2018

  Robert Bozick, Jennifer L. Steele, Lois M. Davis, Susan Turner

  Meta-analysis demonstrates the potential value in providing inmates with educational opportunities while they serve their sentences.

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  Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Electronic Communication and Electronic Devices on the Right to a Fair Trial April 10, 2018

  Justin C. Dawson, Duren Banks, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Shoshana R. Shelton

  The Priority Criminal Justice Needs Initiative convened a panel, including judges, lawyers, educators, and other experts, to identify ways that electronic communication can impact the right to a fair trial and to recommend strategies to protect witnesses from intimidation and jurors from compromising their independence. The panel proceedings and recommendations are presented in this report.

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  Emerging Technology Trends and Their Impact on Criminal Justice March 26, 2018

  John S. Hollywood, Dulani Woods, Andrew Lauland, Brian A. Jackson, Richard Silberglitt

  The Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group discussed near-term effects that major societal trends could have on criminal justice and identified potential responses. This brief summarizes a report of the results of the group's meetings.

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  Addressing Emerging Trends to Support the Future of Criminal Justice: Findings of the Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group March 19, 2018

  John S. Hollywood, Dulani Woods, Andrew Lauland, Brian A. Jackson, Richard Silberglitt

  The Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group (CJTFG) deliberated on the effects that major technology and social trends could have on criminal justice in the next two to five years and identified potential responses. This report captures the results of the group's meetings and initiatives, presents the emerging trends and highlights of the group's discussion, and presents the results of analyses to assess connections between the trends.

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  Law Enforcement Cyber Center: Final Technical Report January 15, 2018

  Sasha Romanosky, Karlyn D. Stanley, Jirka Taylor, Zev Winkelman

  Cybercrime is a challenge for local and state law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Cyber Center (LECC) was established by the Bureau of Justice Assistance as a resource in combatting cybercrime. This report summarizes the LECC's activities, which aimed to raise the awareness and enhance the education and capacity of criminal justice and public safety agencies with regard to cybercrime.

2017

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  Research Paper on the Costs of Non-Europe in the Area of Procedural Rights and Detention Conditions December 20, 2017

  Matteo Barberi, Emma Disley, Marco Hafner, Cristina Gonzalez Monsalve, Arya Sofia Meranto, Jirka Taylor, Christina Eckes

  This report looks at the cost of non-Europe in relation to procedural rights and detention conditions.

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  A Propensity Score Analysis of a Community Resettlement Programme for Women Prisoners December 18, 2017

  Alex Sutherland

  By evaluating a voluntary sector, community-based "through-the-gates" resettlement programme for women, we add to the limited evidence base on interventions for women offenders..

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  Caring for Those in Custody: Identifying High-Priority Needs to Reduce Mortality in Correctional Facilities November 27, 2017

  Joe Russo, Dulani Woods, John S. Shaffer, Brian A. Jackson

  Correctional facilities have a constitutional obligation to provide for the health and well-being of those under their charge, but maintaining inmate health and safety is a significant challenge. This report presents the results of an expert panel convened to consider these challenges and identify a series of needs that, if addressed, could significantly reduce inmate mortality rates.

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  An Analysis of Trends in First Time Entrants to the Youth Justice System November 17, 2017

  Alex Sutherland, Emma Disley, Jack Cattell, Stefan Bauchowitz

  A study to investigate the possible factors related to the rapid changes in the number of first time entrants to the youth justice system in England and Wales.

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