Alternatives to Incarceration — A Bibliographic Essay

This 1990 CASES Briefing Paper: 1) introduces some of the issues and concerns involving alternative sentencing; 2) reviews some alternative programs which currently exist, both established and experimental, to see how they are or can be integrated into the pre...

Alternatives to Youth Incarceration

Drug Treatment and Alternatives to Incarceration

With unmanageable numbers of drug abusers facing criminal charges in our courts, we are increasingly inclined to send many addicts to treatment rather than jail. The practical and conceptual issues raised by such a policy are complex and require much discussio...

Alternatives to incarceration for moms aim to strengthen families

What Do Alternatives to Incarceration Actually Look Like? — Research shows that incarceration is often harmful and counterproductive. Some alternatives to incarceration can help prevent harm while keeping communities safe.

(Alex Li/Common Justice) When Jane* saw John*—the motorcycle driver who had killed her son—at his trial, she had unresolved questions. But in the courtroom, she felt there were no answers. Instead of pursuing traditional prosecution, Jane, her ex-husband, her...

Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration for People with Mental Health Needs in the Criminal Justice System — The Cost-Savings Implications

The disproportionate number of people with behavioral health disorders involved in the criminal justice system puts a tremendous strain on scarce public resources and has a huge impact on health care and criminal justice budgets. This research summary demonstr...

Vera Institute of Justice on the Anniversary of the “Care First, Jails Last” Alternatives to Incarceration Report

About the Vera Institute of JusticeThe Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and activists working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alterna...

Balancing Punishment and Treatment — Alternatives to Incarceration in New York City

Like other U.S. cities, New York is gradually increasing its use of alternatives to incarceration (ATIs) for people who have committed felonies. This is the first study to examine the city’s coordinated ATI system for people convicted of felonies—and one of th...

Parole 101: People in Prison Deserve Second Chances — We need to expand parole. Many states are doing the opposite.

Bobbi Cobaugh wrote in Inquest that “the only way to atone for a murder was to become a better person.” While incarcerated in the New York State prison system, she earned a paralegal degree, associate and bachelor's degrees in sociology, and a master’s degre...

Listen to Their Stories: These Crime Survivors Don’t Want More Prison — These crime survivors and the leader of a crime survivors organization highlight the need for sentencing that focuses on healing and change, not just punishment.

Legislators often invoke crime survivors to justify draconian criminal justice practices, such as lengthy prison sentences. Yet, many people who have experienced harm at the hands of others oppose these harsh practices and support restorative justice and seco...

The Discretionary Power of Prosecuters

Plea bargains, which prosecutors have the discretion to offer to defendants, are ubiquitous in the U.S. criminal justice system. In fact, very few criminal cases make it to trial, where a judge and jury are the primary decision makers. An estimated 94 to 97 pe...

Criminal Justice Trends — Key Legislative Changes in Sentencing Policy, 2001-2010

Since 2001, many state legislatures have changed their criminal sentencing policies, increasingly emphasizing approaches that are “smart on crime.” The three main areas of legislative reform involve redefining and reclassifying criminal offenses, strengthening...