20240626-111317-84

"Priority Area 1: Work with state agencies to receive and analyze data to identify drivers of Arkansas’s high recidivism rates and understand how recidivism contributes to overall crime and incarceration rates. Update: In April, CSG Justice Center staff received data from the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) data was received in the prior month. CSG Justice Center staff received word from the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC) that the full data request is expected to be delivered by mid-May. A data scientist was added to the project as part of the CSG Justice Center research team to facilitate cross-agency data merges and expedite the data analysis process. Priority Area 2: Work with practitioners and justice-impacted individuals around the state to engage in qualitative assessments of the effectiveness of supervision practices, identify barriers to successful reentry, and determine potential gaps in needed services for individuals reentering society. Update: At the end of March, the Board of Corrections appointed a new director of the Division of Community Corrections (ACC). Both the secretary of corrections and the new director were receptive to CSG Justice Center staff’s plan for a regional approach to our community supervision assessment. On their suggestion, staff visited the northwest region of the state, targeting the Washington County Probation Office and the Northwest Arkansas Community Correction Center. Additionally, staff toured a transitional living facility used by ACC. One of the main concerns CSG Justice Center staff heard while on site was that the pay for probation officers was lower than that of numerous surrounding employers that had lower job requirements. CSG Justice Center staff heard that supervision officers feel they lack the necessary time and resources, but they expressed being dedicated to the work. Additionally, the office’s contact standards did not align with best practices. This leads to individuals considered “high risk” receiving less supervision than might be recommended, and “low-risk” individuals receiving more supervision than they might need. Priority Area 3: Cultivate strong relationships with policymakers and stakeholders in the state to ensure that Arkansas’s JRI project has the greatest possible impact on the criminal justice challenges facing the state. Update: Throughout April, CSG Justice Center staff continued to meet with task force members to learn about their perspectives on the state of Arkansas’s criminal justice system. Generally, task force members discussed the need to address the root causes of incarceration but were unsure how to do so. In general, they agreed that mental health and substance use disorders were key drivers of criminal behavior and that future recommendations should incorporate programming for those factors. Additionally, at the end of April, CSG Justice Center staff joined the CSG South region during their legislative site visit. Staff met with several legislators and introduced the project’s goals and objectives. Legislators appeared to recognize the project’s importance and were confident in the task force’s potential recommendations. Several legislators also offered to make connections with stakeholders (sheriffs, local law enforcement, and others) for future outreach and expressed interest in following the task force’s work."