A new report from the U.S. shows a growing number of American states are cutting costs and enhancing public safety through evidence-based correctional and sentencing reforms – and Canadian critics say it’s proof the Conservative government is heading down the wrong path with measures that aim to put more prisoners behind bars for longer periods of time.
The National Governors’ Association Centre for Best Practices study called “State Efforts in Sentencing and Corrections Reform” outlines how the tough economic climate is forcing states across America to rethink long-term criminal justice strategies. The homeland security and public safety division report suggests ways to achieve lower recidivism rates and reduce costs by shrinking prison populations.
“By adopting evidence-based practices and a cross-governmental approach to reform, focusing resources on high-risk offenders, supporting mandatory supervision and treatment in the community and using real-time data and information to drive decisions, states can cut corrections costs while at the same time improving offender outcomes and ensuring public safety,” the report concludes.
