Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenge to Promote Smart Decarceration

This brief was created forSocial Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development in collaboration with the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare, which is leading theGrand Challenges for Social Work initiative to champion social progress. The conference site includes links to speeches, presentations, and a full list of the policy briefs

From Mass Incarceration to Effective and Sustainable Decarceration: Conference Report

All signs indicate that the United States is leaving an era of mass incarceration and is on the cusp of an era of decarceration. However, the challenge of decarceration is far greater than simply reducing the use of incarceration; it involves building an array of policy and practice innovations that replace incarceration. We have a unique opportunity to rethink, redefine, and reimagine the criminal justice system and shape the emerging decarceration movement. The challenge of decarceration is far greater than simply reducing the use of incarceration; it involves building an array of policy and practice innovations that replace incarceration. To launch this area of work, Smart Decarceration Initiative (SDI) hosted the first national conference on decarceration, From Mass Incarceration to Effective and Sustainable Decarceration, on September 24–27, 2015. More than 150 thought-provoking and inspiring leaders in policy, practice, advocacy, and research joined us at Washington University in St. Louis to present their work, engage in meaningful discussion, and help set an agenda for moving decarceration forward. The conference promoted collaboration across disciplines and sectors and stimulated scientifically driven, practical, and applied policy and community-based social innovations. To ensure effective and sustainable decarceration, we must plan and do the difficult work of developing a “smart” approach—one that is evidence-driven and grounded in a social justice orientation

From Mass Incarceration to Smart Decarceration

American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare Grand Challenges Initiative Concept Pape

Smart Decarceration: Guiding Concepts for an Era of Criminal Justice Transformation

The era of mass incarceration, which made the United States the world’s leading jailer, appears to be coming to an end. What is likely to follow is an era of decarceration, aimed at reducing the incarcerated population. In this working paper, we discuss the problems associated with mass incarceration and the current climate that is likely to make decarceration a reality. We discuss the importance of developing a “smart decarceration” approach—one that is effective, sustainable, and socially just. We then articulate interrelated goals for the era of decarceration, and offer guiding concepts that will help to meet these goals through transformation of the criminal justice system

The Promise of Research to Advance Smart Decarceration

This paper describes the concept of "Smart Decarceration" and introduces the special issue of Criminal Justice and Behavior entitled Research to Advance Smart Decarceration Policies, Programs, and Interventions. The concept of Smart Decarceration originated nearly a decade ago as the United States reached a tipping point in mass incarceration, and it focuses on three interrelated outcomes: substantially reducing the use of incarceration and other forms of punishment; reversing racial disparities and other inequities in the criminal justice system; and promoting safety and well-being, particularly for communities that have been most impacted by mass incarceration. Ultimately, Smart Decarceration efforts should prioritize reducing the overall footprint of the criminal justice system, while building capacity outside of the system to support safety, health, and well-being. Research plays a critical role in advancing Smart Decarceration, as new forms of knowledge and evidence must be developed to replace ineffective and unjust policies and practices associated with mass incarceration. The paper discusses approaches to research that move beyond typical criminal justice outcomes and focus on the multifaceted goals of Smart Decarceration. The six articles in this special issue are introduced, highlighting their foci across ecological levels and the breadth of the criminal justice continuum, centering populations most impacted by incarceration, and identifying practice and policy innovations

Reverse Civic and Legal Exclusions for Persons With Criminal Charges and Convictions

This policy action statement was developed by members of the network engaged in the Grand Challenge to Promote Smart Decarceration. The Grand Challenges initiative’s policy action statements present proposals emerging from Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with theAmerican Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare, which is leading the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative to champion social progress through a national agenda powered by science

Examining the Temporal Relationship Between Criminal Justice Involvement and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Drug-Involved Men

Although criminal justice involvement has repeatedly been associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection prevalence and sexual risk behaviors, few studies have examined whether arrest or incarceration uniquely contributes to sexually risky behavior. We examined the temporal relationship between criminal justice involvement and subsequent sexual HIV risk among men in methadone maintenance treatment in New York City. A random sample of 356 men was interviewed at baseline (time 1), 6-month (time 2), and 12-month (time 3) follow-ups. Propensity score matching, negative binomial, and multiple logistic regression were used to isolate and test the effect of time 2 arrest and incarceration on time 3 sexual risk behaviors. Incidence of time 2 criminal justice involvement was 20.1% for arrest and 9.4% for incarceration in the prior 6 months. Men who were arrested at time 2 demonstrated increased number (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.62; 95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.11, 2.37) and proportion (IRR=1.36; 95% CI=1.07, 1.72) of unprotected vaginal sex acts at time 3. Men incarcerated at time 2 displayed increased number (IRR=2.07; 95% CI=1.23, 3.48) and proportion (IRR=1.45; 95% CI=1.06, 1.99) of unprotected vaginal sex acts at time 3. Within this sample of drug-involved men, arrest and incarceration are temporally associated with and may uniquely impact successive sexual risk-taking. Findings underscore the importance of HIV prevention interventions among individuals with low-intensity criminal justice involvement. Developing prevention efforts aimed at short-term incarceration, community reentry, and alternatives to incarceration settings will address a large and under-researched segment of the criminal justice population. Alternative approaches to current criminal justice policy may result in public health benefits

A Longitudinal Study of Incarceration and HIV Risk Among Methadone Maintained Men and Their Primary Female Partners

This study examines the longitudinal relationship between personal and sexual partner incarceration and subsequent HIV risk behaviors among drug-involved men and their primary female sexual partners. A random sample of 356 men in methadone treatment in New York City were interviewed at baseline, 6 and 12 months; these men also reported information on their primary female sexual partners. Female partner recent incarceration was associated with subsequent increase in multiple partnerships for the male participants (AOR: 3.31; 95% C.I.: 1.26-8.72, P < .05). Female partner incarceration was also associated with reduced likelihood of subsequent unprotected sex between primary partners (AOR: .13; 95% C.I.: .05-.40, P < .01); this finding is somewhat unique and warrants further investigation. Findings support the notion of mutual influence in the case of female partner incarceration, which is associated with both female partner and male partner risk behaviors. HIV prevention implications are discussed, including the need for couple-based HIV prevention interventions targeting couples affected by incarceration

Patterns and correlates of drug-related ED visits: Results from a national survey

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78042/1/66.pd

Fear, Trust, and Negotiating Safety: HIV Risks for Black Female Defendants

Through in-depth interviews, this study examined the relational context of sexual HIV risk for 10 Black women aged 18—30 who were defendants in a community court setting. A qualitative data analysis identified themes of actual and feared intimate partner violence (IPV) and the expectations of demonstrating trust in a relationship as obstacles to negotiating the use of condoms. The findings speak to the broader structural factors and consequences of IPV and drug use. The article discusses the implications for HIV prevention for Black women who are involved in the criminal justice system