November of 2011The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center reported on a briefing in Washington, D.C. held the previous month which explained how data-driven justice processes in Ohio and North Carolina were a major factor in getting “landmark” legislation passed in both states.
According to the CSG’s Knowledge Report, in 2010, North Carolina projected that the state’s prison population would increase by almost 4,000 inmates during the next decade. The CSG Justice Center was able to introduce data analysis that determined that over fifty percent of admissions to N.C. prisons were from those convicted of a probation violation.
As of a result of that knowledge, N.C. lawmakers created the Justice Reinvestment Act which focused on providing more supervision and treatment options for probationers determined to be in a high-risk to recidivate category. The Act, which had bi-partisan support, was made into law in June 2011.
The CSG Justice Center reports that by focusing on these high-risk individuals, in five years, the prison population will see a decrease of approximately 5,000 “beds.” According to the CSG, that amounts to $560 million in cumulative savings and costs. Due to the enormous savings, North Carolina will be able to reinvest over $4 million annually in community treatment programs, thereby allowing those on supervision to obtain treatment that would help them stay out of prison.
The Knowledge Report also disclosed that Ohio was the recipient of CSG Justice Center justice reinvestment technical assistance. In that state, the budget had an $8 billion deficit, and a prison system that was 33 percent over capacity, with an expected increase of 3,000 prisoners in three years,
By analyzing the situation in the Ohio, CSG Justice Center discovered that the state’s prisons had an over-abundance of inmates convicted of “low-level property and drug offenses.” These individuals, according to CSG’s findings, were incarcerated for a short period and then released back into the community without supervision.
Using the provided data, a bi-partisan working group, aided by CSG Justice Center staff, came up with a 13-point policy framework. The group also included previous policies introduced by other legislators in their proposed legislation. The new legislation was passed in the state’s House, and was enacted into law on June 29, 2011.
The new law is expected to save Ohio taxpayers $500 million in construction and operating costs of new prisons, while reducing the prison population in existing state prisons.
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