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Do Local Realignment Policies Affect Recidivism in California?

By Mia Bird, Ryken Grattet

In the aftermath of California’s corrections realignment, recidivism patterns did not change dramatically among offenders released from state prison to county supervision. But early evidence suggests that offenders did better if they were released to counties that emphasized reentry services rather than traditional law enforcement.

blog post

Realignment: Progress and Challenges

By Magnus Lofstrom

Now that realignment is approaching the three-year mark, has the reform delivered? In some important ways, yes, it has. But a fundamental issue remains.

Report

Is Public Safety Realignment Reducing Recidivism in California?

By Steven Raphael, Magnus Lofstrom, Ryken Grattet

Despite sweeping changes to the state’s corrections system, California has not seen dramatic changes in arrests or convictions of released offenders. Overall arrest rates are down. But convictions are up, likely a reflection of new prosecutorial processes. Multiple arrests are also up, possibly because released offenders are now spending more time on the streets.

This research was supported with funding from the Smith Richardson Foundation.

blog post

Expanding Health Insurance—to Jail Inmates

By David Lesher

At a recent event, PPIC researchers Mia Bird and Shannon McConville discussed how the federal Affordable Care Act provides an opportunity to help to lower costs and improve health conditions in local jails.

Report

Health Care for California’s Jail Population

By Shannon McConville, Mia Bird

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created a new opportunity for California to reach and enroll a medically vulnerable population—the jail population—in health insurance coverage. While inmates receive health care services from county jail systems while incarcerated, few have coverage after they are released from custody. Expansion of the state’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) under the ACA has extended insurance eligibility to much of the currently uninsured jail population. As a complement to the ACA, California recently signed into law Assembly Bill 720 (AB 720), which facilitates the use of jails as sites of health insurance enrollment. Increasing enrollment levels for the jail population holds the potential to reduce corrections costs, as well as improve public health and safety.

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Evaluating Corrections Reforms

By Joseph Hayes, Sonya Tafoya

Three years into public safety realignment, we know little about which programs and services are most effective at reducing recidivism. This is not the first time California has made a major corrections policy change without the tools to evaluate it.

blog post

State Leaders: More Data Needed on Rehabilitation Efforts

By David Lesher

The state has recently directed more than $1 billion toward new jail beds at the local level. But state policymakers are also focusing on alternatives to incarceration that will reduce recidivism, deter criminal behavior, and save money.

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