Resources
Browse or search our library of research, data, and resources for the latest information on all aspects of local criminal justice reform—from racial disparities to women in jails to mental health.
Featured Resources
Report
Diversion Incarceration Trends Probation Sanctions January 12, 2023
Probation Violations as Drivers of Jail Incarceration in St. Louis County, Missouri
Many have argued that we are in the era of mass probation, as more people are under probation supervision than under any other correctional sanction. Although there have been declines in the national probation population over the past decade, one in 84 adult US residents is currently on probation. Nationwide, local jail populations have also […]
Report
Community Engagement Interagency Collaboration Racial Disparities October 26, 2021
A Path Toward Safe and Equitable Cities
In February of 2021, the National League of Cities launched the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force made up of local leaders from across the country to reimagine how they ensure public safety in their communities. Over several months, we held meetings and listening sessions – digging deep into what cities, experts and communities were feeling, […]
Costs of Jailing
The growth of jails has been costly in many ways.
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Report
Community Engagement Costs Housing
November 22, 2021
Funding Housing Solutions to Reduce Jail Incarceration
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Report
Data Analysis Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail
May 13, 2021
Connection to Care in a Municipal Jail Setting
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Report
Data Analysis Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail
November 19, 2020
Dollars and Sense In Cook County
Innovation Case Studies
Case studies prepared by the Urban Institute show how small-scale innovations in policy and practice are helping to reduce reliance on jail incarceration across the Safety and Justice Challenge Network.
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Publication
Bail Community Engagement Crime Data Analysis Featured Jurisdictions Human Toll of Jail Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail Pretrial and Jails Pretrial Justice Pretrial Services Racial Disparities
July 1, 2022
Expanding Supervised Release in New York City
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Implementation Guide
Data Analysis Interagency Collaboration Pretrial and Bail
October 12, 2018
Case Study: Lessons on Front-End Diversion from Deschutes County, OH
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Implementation Guide
Human Toll of Jail Interagency Collaboration Pretrial and Bail
October 12, 2018
Case Study: Pretrial Strategy for Handling Intimate Partner Violence Cases
Jail Growth
Jail incarceration and jail admissions have grown dramatically since the 1970s. In many parts of the country, the growth continues unabated.
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Data Analysis Jail Populations Racial Disparities
November 18, 2022
Measuring Progress: Declining Populations, Rising Disparities
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COVID Data Analysis Incarceration Trends
November 18, 2022
Measuring Progress: The Fall & Rise of Jail Populations During the Pandemic
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Publication
Bail Community Engagement Crime Data Analysis Featured Jurisdictions Human Toll of Jail Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail Pretrial and Jails Pretrial Justice Pretrial Services Racial Disparities
July 1, 2022
Expanding Supervised Release in New York City
Jail Overview
Local jails are the gateway to the criminal justice system, and a major component and driver of mass incarceration.
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Incarceration Trends Presumption of Innocence Pretrial and Bail Pretrial and Jails Pretrial Justice Pretrial Services
October 12, 2022
Cages Without Bars
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Courts Data Analysis Frequent Jail Users Incarceration Trends Probation Sanctions
May 5, 2022
Trends in Jail Incarceration for Probation Violations
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Data Analysis Human Toll of Jail Pretrial and Bail
September 9, 2020
In the Shadows: A Review of the Research on Plea Bargaining
Mental Illness and Substance Abuse in Jails
Jails have become the “treatment of last resort” for people struggling with mental illness and addiction.
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Report
Data Analysis Human Toll of Jail Substance Abuse
January 26, 2021
Overdose Deaths and Jail Incarceration
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Issue Brief
Data Analysis Human Toll of Jail Mental Health
August 1, 2019
Mental Health: The Legislative Primer Series for Front End Justice
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Issue Brief
Interagency Collaboration Jail Populations Mental Health
May 14, 2015
When Political Will is Not Enough: Jails, Communities, and Persons With Mental Health Disorders (Policy Research Associates)
Poverty and Homelessness in Jail
Jails are often de facto warehouses for people without money or stable housing.
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Data Analysis Homelessness Human Toll of Jail
August 12, 2020
No Access to Justice: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and Jail
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Report
Data Analysis Jail Populations Pretrial and Bail
August 26, 2019
Arrest, Release, Repeat: How police and jails are misused to respond to social problems
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Issue Brief
Data Analysis Human Toll of Jail Young Adults
August 1, 2019
Young Adults in the Justice System: The Legislative Primer Series for Front-End Justice
Racial Inequity
People of color—particularly Black people and their communities—suffer disproportionately from America’s overuse of jails.
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Report
Diversion Incarceration Trends Probation Sanctions
January 12, 2023
Probation Violations as Drivers of Jail Incarceration in St. Louis County, Missouri
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Report
Community Engagement Jail Populations Racial Disparities
January 10, 2023
Over-Incarceration of Native Americans: Roots, Inequities, and Solutions
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Report
Data Analysis Jail Populations Racial Disparities
November 18, 2022
Measuring Progress: Declining Populations, Rising Disparities
Results from the Safety and Justice Challenge Network
Interim results from cities and counties participating in the Safety and Justice Challenge show that jail incarceration can be reduced without compromising public safety, and that local justice systems can be made fairer in the process.
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Report
Diversion Incarceration Trends Probation Sanctions
January 12, 2023
Probation Violations as Drivers of Jail Incarceration in St. Louis County, Missouri
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Report
Diversion Featured Jurisdictions Plea Bargains
November 29, 2022
An Exploration of Prosecutorial Discretion in Plea Bargaining in Philadelphia
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Report
Diversion Plea Bargains Racial Disparities
November 29, 2022
Exploring Plea Negotiation Processes and Outcomes in Milwaukee and St. Louis County
Women in Jail
Women are the fastest growing correctional population in the country.
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Data Analysis Interagency Collaboration Women in Jail
March 27, 2020
Assisting Women throughout the Justice Continuum
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Report
Data Analysis Jail Populations Women in Jail
October 30, 2019
Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2019
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Implementation Guide
Interagency Collaboration Pretrial and Bail Women in Jail
October 12, 2018