Criminal Justice Reform in California Challenges and Opportunities Mia Bird Northern California Grantmakers Annual Conference – From Ideas to Action May 2015

California’s prison population  The vast majority is male  And disproportionately African-American and Latino –African American male incarceration rate: 4,367 per 100,000 –Latino male rate: 922 per 100,000 –White male rate: 488 per 100,000  The prison population has declined in the past decade –163,000 inmates in 2006 –112,300 inmates in

Public safety realignment changed the corrections landscape  Realignment began in October 2011 –Courts mandated a decrease in state prison population –Responsibility for many non-serious, non-violent and non-sexual offenders moved from state to counties  The prison population fell by 27,000 inmates during the first year, then stabilized –Jail populations grew by about 9,000  Proposition 47 may have further reduced the prison population 3

California’s prison and parole populations have decreased 4

How is realignment affecting crime and recidivism?  No effect on violent crime –Property crime has increased modestly  Mixed effects on recidivism rates –Wide variation across counties –Counties prioritizing reentry programs achieved better outcomes than those prioritizing traditional enforcement  Further research needed to identify most effective strategies 5

PPIC is partnering with the Board of State and Community Corrections 6 Engagement with: California State Association of Counties County Administrative Officers Association of California California State Sheriff’s Association Chief Probation Officers of California CDCR and DOJ Partially Funded by: National Institute of Justice

Health and housing services are key to improving reentry outcomes... 7  Health services –High-need population –Counties can facilitate health insurance enrollment prior to release –Coverage can provide resources for mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and other services  Continuous care and supportive housing –Many counties initiating or expanding programs for high-need offenders upon release

...as are education and family services 8  Education, vocational training and employment support –Populations are less likely to be attached to employment or educational institutions –Those with felony records face high barriers to employment –Educational programming, vocational training in jails, work release programs, and services in the community  Child support and family services –Many need family services while in jail or upon release –Parenting and gender-based programming, assistance with child support modifications

Communities and community-based organizations need support  Implementing interventions to reduce recidivism –New, innovative programming needed –Services in historically incarceration-oriented jurisdictions also key  Collecting data and performing evaluations –Multiplies the effect of successful interventions –Creates an evidence-basis for others to draw on 9

Criminal Justice Reform in California Challenges and Opportunities Mia Bird Northern California Grantmakers Annual Conference – From Ideas to Action May 2015

Notes on the use of these slides 11 These slides were created to accompany a presentation. They do not include full documentation of sources, data samples, methods, and interpretations. To avoid misinterpretations, please contact: Mia Bird ) Thank you for your interest in this work.