TTA Today Blog

Welcome to BJA NTTAC's TTA Today blog! TTA Today posts tell the story of training and technical assistance (TTA) engagements through individual perspectives, including those of DOJ and BJA leaders, staff, technical assistance providers, subject matter experts, community members, and other relevant stakeholders. These posts serve as an informal venue to share relevant updates or best practices from the criminal justice community, as well as to feature first-hand accounts of how TTA impacts state, local, and tribal communities across the nation.

Addressing Health Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

February 19, 2015

By: Jim Parsons, Vice President and Director of Research, Vera Institute of Justice

Incarcerated persons are three times more likely to experience chronic, acute, and behavioral health problems than the general population.¹ These persons have limited access to health care both inside facilities and in the communities to which they are released. A historical lack of coordination between justice and health agencies exacerbates these issues even further. Consequently, people with such problems routinely fail to get the treatment they need. Research shows that incarcerated persons with substance use and mental health needs often find themselves caught in a revolving door of repeated arrest and incarceration, and effective and targeted treatment made possible by information-sharing can address health disparities, reduce costs, and lower recidivism rates. Astrology

Prioritizing Probation in Lee County, FL

February 02, 2015

Background

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, at the end of 2013 there were an estimated 4.75 million adults under community supervision. While this was down nearly 30,000 from 2012, it still means an average of one in 51 adults is in such a position. Those high numbers have strained the caseload of community corrections departments, many of which do not have a large number of probation or parole officers.

TTA Data! – Is BJA really that excited about TTA Data?

December 17, 2014

by Rebecca Rose and Lee Dail

Below you will hear from BJA NTTAC Director Rebecca Rose and Lee Dail, Grants Administrator for National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), on their experiences with the new training and technical assistance (TTA) Reporting Portal.

Strengthening Community-Student Relations in Durham, NH

November 21, 2014

Background

How Data-Driven Policing Reports Can Better Serve Field Officers

October 27, 2014

Background

The Portland, Oregon Police Bureau (Police Bureau) has 940 officers—a 1.6 officer per 1,000 resident ratio. While this may seem like sufficient resources, it is actually below the national average. With a low ratio of officers, it is paramount the Police Bureau use its resources as efficiently as possible.

How Swift and Certain Sanctions Changed Community Supervision in Washington State

September 12, 2014

Background

Enforcing community supervision for released inmates is a persistent challenge for the criminal justice system. This challenge comes at a high cost as many probationers and parolees are revoked and returned to prison on technical violations, such as continued drug use and no-shows for appointments. In an attempt to reduce violation rates and the associated costs, many jurisdictions are testing a new approach. This new approach, referred to as the Swift and Certain (SAC) model, is modeled after a program that was originally tested on high-risk probationers in Hawaii.

How Can Crime Analysis Help Police Reduce Crime?

August 19, 2014

by Dr. Laura Wyckoff, Bureau of Justice Assistance Fellow

Focusing resources on high-crime places, high-rate offenders, and repeat victims can help police effectively reduce crime in their communities. Doing so reinforces the notion that the application of data-driven strategies, such as hotspots policing, problem-oriented policing, and intelligence-led policing, work. Police must know when, where, and how to focus limited resources, as well as how to evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies. Sound crime analysis is paramount to this success.

Enhanced Information Sharing Capabilities Can Improve Reentry Efforts

July 27, 2014

Background

Currently, many states are undertaking reentry initiatives to examine how improved information-sharing among key partners in the reentry process can ensure more successful outcomes. Corrections, law enforcement agencies, and service providers can all benefit from sharing information on justice-involved individuals as they enter and leave correctional supervision. However, historically, key reentry partners have been challenged with sharing this information in an accurate, timely, complete, and secure way.

What Is CPTED and How Can It Help Your Community?

July 10, 2014

by: Julia Ryan, Community Safety Initiatives Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

“How about hostile vegetation?” It’s not a question you hear every day. But when asked by a police officer in a crime prevention training in Houston, TX, it launched an intense discussion about whether thorny rose bushes could deter burglars from entering ground floor windows in a new residential property. Not a typical police response to a crime problem, right?

Developing Effective Policies to Govern the Use of Technology in Law Enforcement

May 13, 2014

by: David J. Roberts, Senior Program Manager, IACP Technology Center Modern technology has become a crucial element in the daily lives of people all around the world and, in many respects, it is improving our quality of life. In healthcare, technology is helping doctors diagnose diseases earlier in their patients. For law enforcement, technology is playing a critical role in the daily work of officers in the field, equipping them with enforcement and investigative tools that can make them safer, better informed, and more efficient and effective.

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