New Recidivism Report

A major new report from the Council of State Governments Justice Center has been released.

While it is primarily another venture in sifting through the debris of past rehabilitative program failure while generating much the same type of service-based approach, the section on place-based reentry focus (broken-windows policing turned into broken-communities treatment) is interesting. (p. 41)

There is also an acknowledgement that the key to successful reentry is changing behavior. (p. 26)

An excerpt from the press release.

“Overview

“In April 2009, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) called on the Council of State Governments and the Pew Center on the States to convene state and federal leaders for a summit on the latest knowledge about reducing recidivism and applying the justice reinvestment approach to manage the growth in corrections populations nationwide.

“In January 2010, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, in partnership with the Pew Center on the States, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the Public Welfare Foundation hosted the first national summit on justice reinvestment. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Congressmen Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Adam Schiff (D-WA) delivered remarks at the summit. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder delivered remarks via a previously taped message. The summit was attended by a broad cross-section of leaders in government and criminal justice who expressed interest in learning about data-driven, fiscally responsible policies and practices that can increase public safety and reduce recidivism and spending on corrections.”