Resources
Ending Mass Incarceration
The Vera Institute of Justice is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve justice systems in the United States. One of Veras key priorities is ending mass incarceration, which they believe is an urgent moral and economic imperative. Through research, advocacy, and partnerships with stakeholders across the justice system, Vera seeks to promote policies and practices that reduce the number of people who are incarcerated, ensure that those who are incarcerated are treated humanely and fairly, and support individuals and communities impacted by mass incarceration. The organization provides data, analysis, and recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, and the public to help create a more fair and effective justice system.
The Vera Institute of Justice is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve justice systems in the United States. One of Veras key priorities is ending mass incarceration, which they believe is an urgent moral and economic imperative. Through research, advocacy, and partnerships with stakeholders across the justice system, Vera seeks to promote policies and practices that reduce the number of people who are incarcerated, ensure that those who are incarcerated are treated humanely and fairly, and support individuals and communities impacted by mass incarceration. The organization provides data, analysis, and recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, and the public to help create a more fair and effective justice system.
The Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator is a web-based tool provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to help individuals, family members, and treatment providers find early intervention services for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). The tool allows users to search for early intervention services by location, age group, and type of service. It also provides information on the types of services available, the populations served, and how to access them. The locator is intended to help individuals with SMI get the treatment and support they need as early as possible, which can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse.
The American Bar Associations Criminal Justice Section has developed a set of standards for diversion programs, which aim to provide alternatives to traditional criminal justice processes for individuals accused of crimes. These standards outline the key components of effective diversion programs, such as screening and eligibility criteria, program goals and objectives, monitoring and evaluation, and confidentiality requirements. The standards also address various types of diversion programs, including pretrial diversion, deferred prosecution, and conditional dismissal, and provide guidance on how to design and implement these programs in a fair and just manner. The goal of these standards is to promote consistency, accountability, and transparency in diversion programs across the United States.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Diversion Programs aims to provide an alternative to traditional prosecution and sentencing for low-level, non-violent offenders. The programs are designed to divert offenders from the traditional criminal justice system into a more rehabilitative and restorative process, thereby reducing the burden on the court system and improving outcomes for both the offender and the community. The DOJ offers a variety of diversion programs, including pre-trial diversion, deferred prosecution agreements, and diversion courts, which aim to address the root causes of criminal behavior and reduce recidivism while also providing accountability and community safety.
WSIPP conducts independent, applied research to evaluate public policies and programs in various areas including criminal justice, education, health, and social welfare. Their research focuses on identifying evidence-based policies and programs that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government spending. The Current Projects page on the WSIPP website provides information on the ongoing research projects that the organization is conducting in these areas.
The Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School is dedicated to advancing reform of the criminal legal system. As part of this mission, they have created the 50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder, a resource designed to help policymakers and advocates understand and reform criminal justice debt policies across the United States. The online tool provides an interactive map and state-by-state summaries of criminal justice debt laws and policies, including fees, fines, restitution, and other financial obligations imposed on individuals involved in the criminal legal system. The resource aims to support data-driven policy reforms and advocacy efforts to reduce the harms caused by criminal justice debt.
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) CrimeSolutions is an online resource that provides information on evidence-based practices in criminal justice. It offers a database of programs and practices that have been rigorously evaluated to determine their effectiveness in reducing crime and recidivism. CrimeSolutions categorizes these programs and practices based on the strength of evidence supporting their effectiveness, making it easy for criminal justice professionals and policymakers to identify promising strategies for addressing specific types of crime. The website also includes additional resources, such as evaluation guidance and information on research methods, to support the implementation of evidence-based practices. Overall, CrimeSolutions is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the criminal justice system seeking evidence-based solutions to reduce crime and improve public safety.
The Crime, Justice, and Safety research area of the Urban Institute focuses on understanding and addressing issues related to crime and justice, including policing, courts, corrections, victimization, and community safety. Through their research, the Urban Institute seeks to inform policy and practice, and to promote evidence-based solutions to crime and justice challenges. The organization produces a range of reports, briefs, and other publications that are widely cited and influential in shaping policy debates at the local, state, and national levels. Overall, the Urban Institute is a respected and valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand or address crime and justice issues in the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Data Explorer (CDE) is an online platform that provides public access to crime data collected by the FBI. The platform is part of the FBIs Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division, which collects and analyzes data related to law enforcement agencies across the United States. The CDE includes a range of interactive tools for exploring and visualizing data on crimes reported by law enforcement agencies, such as murder, robbery, and drug offenses. Users can generate custom reports and maps to compare data across different jurisdictions and time periods, as well as download data in a variety of formats for further analysis.
The Court Diversion program is part of the Office of the Vermont Attorney General and offers an alternative approach to traditional criminal justice processes. The program is designed to divert individuals who have committed minor offenses away from the court system and into community-based restorative justice programs. The goal of the Court Diversion program is to address the underlying causes of the behavior that led to the offense and to promote rehabilitation and community restoration. The program works closely with community partners to provide a range of services, including counseling, mediation, and community service opportunities, in order to promote accountability and positive outcomes for both the offender and the community. The Court Diversion program is an important resource for individuals in Vermont who may benefit from an alternative approach to justice and rehabilitation.