Presentation by Steve Aos on Using Evidence-based Public Policy to Reduce Incarceration, Crime, and Criminal Justice Costs

Steve Aos, assistant director of the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, shared findings from his groundbreaking cost-benefit study in which he

• identifies evidence-based public policy options that can effectively reduce crime;
• estimates the benefits and costs associated with these options; and
• projects how investing in these options could decrease incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and lower recidivism rates.

Mr. Aos also discussed how his study changed the policy conversation in Washington State and its relevance for other jurisdictions.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy is an applied research group of the Washington State legislature. Steve Aos has 33 years of experience conducting cost-benefit analyses and communicating the results to a wide range of policymakers.