Vera Institute of Justice Current Thinking Feed

Guest blogger Judge Steven Alm on the success of the HOPE probation program

Judge Steven Alm — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:30:20 -0600

Editor's Note: Hawaii First Circuit Court Judge Steven Alm started Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program. Vera’s Center on Sentencing & Corrections has written a policy brief about HOPE.

Technology links families and their incarcerated loved ones

mdizerega — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:24:13 -0600

I recently spent time in Lansing, Michigan, where I had the opportunity to meet with corrections staff, parole officers, and community-based service providers working on Michigan’s Prisoner Reentry Initiative. Our discussion focused on how the reentry initiative could incorporate a consistent focus on families and social supports through all phases of incarceration, reentry planning, and community supervision.

Court is intimidating, especially if you are seven years old

restrada — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:03:06 -0600

Recently, I conducted a site visit for Vera’s Unaccompanied Children Program, which helps legal service providers increase pro bono legal representation for immigrant children who have no parent or guardian to help them as they undergo removal (deportation) proceedings. The provider I visited uses a host of child-friendly tools to teach these children about their legal rights, the U.S.

Perspectives on crime and money: Interview with cost-benefit expert Steve Aos

vlevshin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:19:14 -0600

Steve Aos, the associate director of the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP), spoke with us recently about the agency’s approach to reducing crime and saving money. Steve has built a reputation for conducting cost-benefit studies that have a considerable impact on justice policies.

A spotlight on juvenile justice in NYC and beyond

asalsich — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:15:52 -0600

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this week that the city's Department of Juvenile Justice is merging with its Administration for Children’s Services. For me, the good news is that this signals a real commitment to detaining fewer kids and making sure they get the care they need.

Ballpark figure

aaustin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:44:22 -0600

We often hear the collateral consequences of the criminal justice system described in individual terms—the impact on a formerly incarcerated person’s ability to acquire housing, to parent his or her children, to exercise rights of citizenship. We think less often about the consequences to communities—in particular, poor, urban, black communities.

Less is more?

rshanahan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:38:43 -0600

A recent article from Colorado highlights an important problem facing counties across the United States: the high cost of incarcerating individuals who, despite their undesirable behavior, pose little or no risk to public safety.

Your donation will now go twice as far

jlevy — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:00:42 -0600

When you give to Vera, you can now double the impact of your contribution. Please help us take advantage of a new challenge grant. Every dollar you donate will be matched, up to $1 million. Donate securely online and help make our justice systems fairer and more effective.

New podcasts on cost-benefit analysis and juvenile justice

vlevshin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:39:45 -0600

Vera’s Cost-Benefit Analysis Unit has released two podcasts about a cost-benefit study featured in this month’s report from Governor Paterson’s Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice. The report grabbed the attention of the media, with reporters highlighting the steep costs of New York State's juvenile facilities and the high recidivism rates among youth released from them.

A part of the solution

klarson — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:33:07 -0600

There's a story that's often told to illustrate the value of a strength-based approach, about a team sent to help malnourished children in Vietnam. The key to success was to look at children in the same villages who were thriving and identify sustainable solutions from within the community.