blog post Testimony: A Data-Driven Approach to Corrections By Mia Bird Apr 23, 2014 California has effectively created 58 county policy laboratories and with them, the opportunity to use variation in county approaches to identify best practices that can be shared throughout the state and nationwide.
Report Funding Public Safety Realignment By Joseph Hayes, Mia Bird Nov 19, 2013 California has transferred significant authority—and funds—from the state to the counties to manage lower-level felon populations. This report describes how these funding allocations have evolved and proposes a new funding model, with special attention to county characteristics and incentives for reducing recidivism.
Report Capacity Challenges in California’s Jails By Magnus Lofstrom, Katherine Kramer Sep 27, 2012 In an effort widely known as "realignment,” California has given its counties enormous new responsibilities for corrections—including authority over many new types of felony offenders and parolees. Rather than go to state prison, these offenders now go to county jail or receive an alternative sanction. In the first few months of realignment, California’s jail population increased noticeably—but many jails were already facing capacity concerns. We find that some offenders who would have been incarcerated prior to realignment are now either not locked up or are not spending as much time in jail. Going forward, counties will need to consider a wide variety of approaches for handling their capacity concerns and their expanded offender populations.
press release Half of Likely Voters Favor Proposition 30—Support Slightly Lower for Proposition 38 Sep 19, 2012
Report Corrections Realignment: One Year Later By Dean Misczynski Aug 30, 2012 In 2011, California began a vast effort to change its corrections system. Key responsibilities have shifted from the state to the counties, including the incarceration of low-level felons and supervision of released prisoners. How have these changes affected California so far? This report examines a range of issues, from capacity pressures to probation arrangements to crime rates.
