News & Events

These resources include an introduction to the curriculum, PowerPoint slides and faculty notes for the curriculum, and companion briefs on effective court responses.
* Introduction to the Evidence-Based Judicial Decision Making Curriculum
*The Evidence-Based Judicial Decision Making Curriculum
* Companion briefs to the curriculum: 
· Effective Court Responses to Persons Charged with Driving Under the Influence
· Effective Court Responses to Persons Charged with Domestic Violence Offenses 
· Effective Court Responses to Persons with Mental Disorders
· Effective Court Responses to Persons with Substance Use Disorder

MacArthur Expands Safety and Justice Challenge

MacArthur has committed an additional $22M to support criminal justice reform across the country.

Click here to learn more.

Arnold Foundation releases RFP

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation seeks jurisdictions interested in becoming Public Safety Assessment (PSA) action-research sites. Selected jurisdictions will receive intensive technical assistance to implement the PSA and participate in rigorous research to evaluate it. Information and application instructions are available online.

Click here to learn more.

Buffalo Opioid Intervention Court Webcast

On June 27, 2018, the Safety + Justice Challenge and the National Center for State Courts hosted a webinar on “The Buffalo Opioid Intervention Court: From Concept to Practice.” The Honorable Craig D. Hannah, Buffalo City Court Judge and Jeffrey D. Smith, Project Director, 8th Judicial District of New York discussed the history, implementation and successes of the Buffalo Opioid Intervention Court. Presenters described the circumstances that led to initiating this program, implementation barriers and program outcomes to date.  

Access to a recorded version of this webcast is available to SJC Exchange Members and can be found by searching “Buffalo” in the SJC Exchange.

Vera Institute Releases Report on Dynamics of Mass Incarceration

A new report from the Vera Institute, The New Dynamics of Mass Incarceration, is a first ever look at the complex interactions between prison and jail populations, and proposes a more complete set of prison and jail metrics to capture the nuance of the current state of mass incarceration.

Click here to learn more.

New Innovation Fund Grant Opportunity

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Urban Institute previously selected 20 jurisdictions to be supported by the Innovation Fund, aimed at supporting innovative thinking in criminal justice. To build on the momentum generated by the Innovation Fund work to date, MacArthur and Urban are announcing a second Innovation Fund competition. Innovation Fund sites will receive a grant of $50,000 and technical assistance and peer learning support in their efforts to rethink justice systems and implement data-driven strategies to safely reduce jail populations. Agencies, organizations, and other entities interested in applying for the Innovation Fund can access the program and grant application details at https://innovation-fund.fluidreview.com/. We will be hosting informational webinars on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 12:00pm-1:00pm ET or Thursday, June 7, 2018 from 1:00pm-2:00pm ET (registration required). Applications are due June 15, 2018.

Click here to learn more.

Vera Institute Releases Report on Black and White Jail Incarceration

A new report released this week from the Vera Institute of Justice, Divided Justice: Uncovering trends in Black and White Jail Incarceration, 1990-2013, reveals some interesting trends on incarceration rates and race.

Click here to learn more.

National Task Force on Fines, Fees, and Bail Practices Releases New Publication

Principles on Fines, Fees, and Bail Practices promote more fair, transparent, and efficient bail practices and imposition and collection of legal financial obligations.

Click here to learn more.

Delaware Law Designed to Modernize the Pretrial Process

The law requires the use of evidence-based risk assessment and aims to reduce reliance on monetary release conditions while promoting public safety.

Click here to learn more.

CA Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup Releases Report

10 recommendations include replacing money bail with risk-based assessment and supervision programs.

Click here to learn more.

Arkansas Enacts the Criminal Justice Efficiency and Safety Act of 2017 (Act 423)

Governor Asa Hutchinson created the Act 423 Task Force to assist in implementing the Act, which, among its many provisions, encourages counties to adopt an evidence-based pretrial risk assessment tool. A Task Force subcommittee will recommend a tool for statewide adoption.

Click here to learn more.