On February 26, 2021, MAP hosted a criminal justice reform webinar on recidivism reduction entitled “New State Evidence: Reducing Recidivism in America.” The event was moderated by Represent Justice’s National Director of Policy, Marshan Allen, and comprised of an esteemed group of panelists:
The Urban Institute’s Senior Fellow for Justice Policy Center, Janeen Buck Willison
The Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s National Policy Director, Michael Mendoza
The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s Corrections and Reentry Division Director, Nicole Jarrett
The panelists discussed innovative solutions to combat recidivism, including getting the right people at the table, collectively reviewing data, understanding the success stories of those who don’t recidivate, and asking questions about funding.
Recidivism is the tendency of a person convicted of a crime to relapse into criminal behavior. Mass incarceration contributes to the cycle of recidivism by stripping 2.3 million people of education and employment, thus putting them at higher risk of reoffending upon release.
The criminal justice system uses low recidivism rates as a key indicator of success for reducing crime, bettering public safety, and providing rehabilitation; recidivism is measured by rates of rearrest, reconviction, or reincarceration. However, Willison suggested that recidivism data should consider pathways to success and law abiding behavior, or alternatives to incarceration in reducing re-involvement with the system.
Later, Jarrett asserted that no one system owns reentry: when we discuss recidivism, we must consider everyone who may have specialized knowledge of the system and its effects. She instructed legislators to come to an understanding about the data they have and plan to address the answers to questions about who’s recidivating. Willison added that legislators should learn from the people who don’t recidivate to understand how they obtained their success and add these techniques to existing reentry services. Additionally, Mendoza advised legislators to ensure that money is allocated for the right recidivism programs to efficiently help with reentry.
Recidivism reduction typically receives major bipartisan support because both Democrats and Republicans understand the need for formerly incarcerated people to smoothly transition into society. Consequently, there is bipartisan consensus that workforce development, educational opportunities, and removing employment barriers present more opportunities for those coming home. Jarrett highlighted two key bipartisan measures: the Second Chance Act of 2007 and the Ohio Fresh Start Act.
To write quality legislation, Mendoza charged legislators to redefine how they see and engage with recently incarcerated individuals — as the constituents and voters they are. Furthermore, he suggested that they conduct town halls to discuss policies people with lived experience agree upon and would like to see passed in their communities. Only by communicating with these people, can legislators “put stories and faces to the bills they’re writing.”
To learn more, check out a recording of the webinar below.