This work, conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Justice, includes researchers from Vera's Substance Use and Mental Health Program and Cost-Benefit Analysis Unit, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Rutgers University. The research team will:

• Describe sentencing outcomes by analyzing administrative data on felony drug cases indicted before and after the reforms, as well as conducting case file reviews and interviewing judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to explore the factors influencing charging and sentencing decisions 
• compare recidivism outcomes for individuals charged with felony drug crimes before and after the reforms 
• Measure the reform’s impact by conducting a cost-benefit analysis of changes to sentencing, including the costs of various sentences and the costs and benefits of any changes in recidivism

Why This Research Matters

In light of the current fiscal crisis, there is a nationwide drive to reduce incarceration and corrections costs without jeopardizing public safety. Increasingly, states are considering new ways to respond to people convicted of drug offenses, a largely non-violent group that constitutes a sizeable minority of the incarcerated population. As policymakers grapple with sentencing options, there is a pressing need for empirical evidence to inform their decisions. SUMH aims to contribute to this dialogue by documenting the impact of two different approaches to sentencing for drug offenses.

For more information, contact program director Jim Parsons.