CJCJ: Reentry and Sentencing Reform

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Reentry and Sentencing Reform

Welcome

One of CJCJ's primary initiatives is reform of the nation's reentry and sentencing policies. Reform to these laws and policies stands to reduce prison populations and overcrowding, decrease overall crime rates, as well as provide a cost-effective means to hold offenders accountable and rehabilitate them from their criminal behavior. This part of the CJCJ website seeks to offer vital, comprehensive public information and research to concerned citizens and public officials on the most necessary and important criminal justice policy reforms today.

Learn about our model reentry and sentencing programs and how they can apply to reform your jurisdiction:


Sentencing Reform		Community Based Reentry and Rehabilitation Services

Sentencing policies must be able to safely reduce prison populations and place appropriate sanctions to promote public safety.		Quality reentry and rehabilitation services will reduce recividism and increase public safety by offering ex-offenders alternatives to a life of crime.

Establish a permanent sentencing commission to draft, revise, and monitor sentencing guidelines Implement sentencing guidelines that have effective appellate review, resource impact assessments, and intermediate sanction recommendations Support viable sentencing reform that provide a broad array of sentencing options; instead of mandatory minimums		Provide employment services such as education, job training and placement immediately upon a prisoner's release Direct addicted and mentally ill ex-offenders to substance abuse and mental health treatment immediately upon their release Increase case management services to connect ex-offenders with services available and prevent parole violations

Fact Sheets: [Three Strikes] (PDF) Talking Points: [Three Strikes] (PDF)		Publications: ["Aftercare as Afterthought: Re-entry and the California Youth Authority"] (PDF) Commissioned by the California State Senate, September 2002 ["Technical Assistance Report to the District of Columbia, Commissioned by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee"] (PDF) -- includes specific reentry reform recommendations ['Striking Out: The Failure of California's "Three Strikes and You're Out" Law']