We know that the criminal justice system plays a huge role in perpetuating poverty. Over 5 million adults are currently incarcerated or under correctional supervision and 68% of those released are rearrested within three years. After release, those who were previously incarcerated are often excluded from job opportunities, have few social connections, and lack access to rehabilitative services which makes reintegration challenging, if not impossible. Rigorous research is needed to better understand ways to support people who remain under supervision and identify the underlying problems within the corrections system. This is important not only from a policy perspective, but also from a people perspective. If we maintain the status quo, we will continue to invest in a costly system that robs people of their dignity, disrupts families (which can have long-term consequences for children), and makes it very difficult for people to get back on their feet. The system is broken, and the reality is we do not know the best way(s) to fix it. We need top scholars dedicating their minds and hearts towards building causal evidence so that we can understand what works and what doesn’t work.
That’s why we’re so excited to announce our new partnership with Arnold Ventures (AV). Together, we’re aiming to build a solid evidence base for criminal justice interventions, giving policymakers and organizations the data they need to make informed decisions.
Why This Partnership Matters
At LEO, we’re committed to rigorous research, using methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies to find out what really works. We already have 100+ projects underway, including several focused on criminal justice. With AV’s support, we’re ready to take our efforts to the next level.
Jennifer Doleac, executive vice president of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures shares, “The Criminal Justice team at AV frequently talks with people from nonprofits and government agencies who are interested in measuring the effects of their programs. That information is crucial for making sure they’re having the biggest impact possible. I’m excited that we can now put more of those stakeholders in touch with LEO to explore what a rigorous evaluation would look like. Scaling LEO’s work in the criminal justice space is a huge step forward in our quest for evidence-based policy.”
Working with Passionate Partners
Our collaboration with AV will allow us to do what we do best: identify poverty’s fiercest adversaries, both nonprofit and government agencies, who are ready to conduct thorough evaluations of their criminal justice programs. We’ll connect these groups with our network of top-notch researchers to design and launch impactful studies. In order to support this influx of new criminal justice projects, we are also hiring two new postdoctoral candidates who specialize in criminal justice research.
How We Choose Projects
Choosing the right projects to evaluate is a careful process. LEO has developed a robust vetting process to identify potential partners that are ready for rigorous research. This vetting goes both ways: it is a chance for us to evaluate potential partners and it is also a chance for these organizations to get to know LEO. Both parties are responsible for ensuring that expectations about the reality of conducting an RCT are crystal clear and for determining whether entering into this partnership is the right decision. During the vetting process we are really trying to understand: do we have the right partner? And if so, can we find the right project? We look for passionate leaders and organizations that truly want to understand and improve their programs. LEO’s project development team leads them through a series of highly structured conversations wherein we are simultaneously learning about their work, teaching them about LEO and our approach to rigorous research, and candidly discussing the benefits and challenges of conducting an RCT. The goal of these conversations is to help them discern whether or not they are truly ready to take on this type of evaluation.
Some of Our Current Projects
We have a portfolio of existing projects in the criminal justice space, including:
In Texas, we’re partnering with the Lubbock County Prison System to test a cognitive-behavioral therapy model for reducing violent offenses among incarcerated individuals.
In Georgia, we’re assessing a summer camp program run by Kidz2Leaders that supports children with incarcerated parents; their long-term goal is to reduce the intergenerational cycle of incarceration
In Missouri, we partnered with the Johnson County Department of Corrections to test the impact of screening individuals for mental health issues when they are first booked into the county jail and then offering mental health treatment when they are released.
The Role of Evidence
Creating and using evidence is crucial for setting effective policies. Programs that promise to improve lives need to be tested to prove they work. Evidence helps us know what to stop doing, what to expand, and who benefits the most. For instance, our project with the Goodwill Excel Center found the program highly successful overall, but not for justice-involved individuals. Instead of just expanding the program, the Goodwill Excel Center has developed a new program to specifically support justice-involved students and is testing it through another RCT with LEO.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward with AV, we’re scaling up our efforts to strategically focus on identifying new partners in the criminal justice space each year. LEO will proactively seek out organizations in the criminal justice space, including nonprofit organizations as well as government agencies that are interested in conducting rigorous research. We are excited to see so many organizations eager to understand and test their criminal justice strategies through rigorous research. Our shared goal is to create a wealth of evidence that will inform better policies and lead to a more just and equitable society.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building evidence and driving change together.
If you’re in the criminal justice space or know someone who is and would like to learn more, reach out to Fred LaBrecque at flabrec2@nd.edu!