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New Research

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A Capitol Concern: The disproportionate impact of the justice system on low-Income communities in D.C.
July 27, 2010
New report says D.C. has greatest income inequality of any major city in the country, suffering from major economic and racial disparities that contribute to high rates of justice-involvement. Read the press release and download the report.


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Healing Invisible Wounds: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense
July 7, 2010
As many as 9 in 10 youth in justice system have experienced a traumatic event, yet few such youth are identified as traumatized, and fewer receive appropriate treatment or placement. Read the press release and download the report.


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Shifting the Problem: Fact Sheet on Proposed California Community Corrections Enhancement Act
June 24, 2010
California’s proposed bill to relocate people serving sentences of less than 3 years from state prisons to county jails is not a solution to overcrowding. Read the fact sheet and press release.



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Baltimore Behind Bars: How to Reduce the Jail Population, Save Money and Improve Public Safety
June 8, 2010
The number of people in Baltimore’s overcrowded jail can be reduced – saving millions of state dollars – by changing policing practices, reforming court processes and improving jail and post-jail services. Read the report, summary and press release.



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For Immediate Release: How to Safely Reduce Prison Populations and Support People Returning to Their Communities
June 2, 2010
Reducing prison populations and maintaining public safety can both be accomplished while allowing state taxpayers to save money with more effective programs. Read the fact sheet and press release.

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New factsheet on FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report
May 24, 2010
The FBI released its 2009 Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report today showing drops in crime came at a time when prison growth rates fell from previous years. Read the fact sheet and press release.


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Testimony on Impact of Proposed 2011 Department of Justice Budget
by Justice Policy Institute Executive Director Tracy Velázquez, MPA

April 14, 2010
"As it stands, this budget is likely to increase state incarceration rates and costs, maintain the disproportionate and harmful impact of the justice system on communities of color, and fail to create the stronger communities that will result in sustained improvements in public safety." Read the written and oral tesimony.

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Fact Sheet on The Obama Administration’s 2011 Budget: More Policing, Prisons, and Punitive Policies
February 17, 2010
Too little funding targeted towards “no-entry” programs that keep people from ending up in the criminal justice system in the first place. Read the press release.


Fact Sheet on the DOJ Report on Prisoners in 2008
December 11, 2009
Prisons are still growing and racial disparities persist, despite availability of cost-effective alternatives. Read the press release.

Fact Sheet Response to
2008 FBI Uniform Crime Report

September 15, 2009
During 2008, at a time when prison and jail growth rates dropped, the United States experienced a 1.9 percent decline in violent crimes and a 0.8 percent decline in property crimes reported. The findings suggest that lowering the number of people incarcerated can be an effective way to increase public safety.

The Costs of Confinement:
Why Good Juvenile Justice Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense

May 19, 2009
States spend billions to imprison youth in secure facilities, but could save money, preserve public safety, and improve life outcomes for individual youth by redirecting the money to community-based alternatives.

Pruning Prisons: How Cutting Corrections Can Save Money and Protect Public Safety
May 19, 2009
The United States spends spend billions to incarcerate people in prisons and jails with little impact on public safety, but redirecting funds to community-based alternatives will decrease prison populations, save money, and preserve public safety in the long run.

Fact Sheet on FY2010 Department of Justice Budget
May 2009

The 2010 DOJ budget directs more money to law enforcement than prevention with the likely long-term outcome being increased arrests, incarceration, and money spent on corrections.

Bearing Witness: Baltimore City’s Residents Give Voice to What’s Needed to Fix the Criminal Justice System
April 1, 2009
Bearing Witness captures the perspectives of the people of Baltimore City impacted by the criminal justice system and their suggestions for alternatives to addressing social problems.