criminal justice

The criminal justice system in the United States produces vast amounts of data daily. However, these data are rarely used by agencies beyond the tracking of individual cases. Measures for Justice (MFJ) has developed a system that leverages the data already collected by local agencies to assess the health of the criminal justice system at the county level. This webinar will discuss the importance of using data to identify problematic patterns that need correction as well as best practices that could be replicated.

This webinar will address why cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) that addresses criminal thinking is important in addition to CBT programming that addresses substance use disorder for individuals involved in the criminal legal system.

Leaders of local criminal justice initiatives often need to facilitate sensitive conversations when evidence points to disparities in the system. Disparate outcomes can take many different forms, such as longer jail stays for people with serious mental illnesses or disproportionate numbers of people of color being booked into jail. Elevating these topics as priorities and guiding system stakeholders toward meaningful action may feel uncomfortable, challenging, and stressful for the people driving the conversation.

Researchers, program planners, and policy makers have access to a number of web-based resources that serve as a centralized source of information on what works in criminal and juvenile justice. These resources typically present information on the characteristics and effectiveness of various programs or practices along with a summary of the empirical evidence on their effectiveness drawn from evaluations or meta-analyses.