CRJ’s Public Safety Leadership Platform and How You Can Get Involved

In November 2010, every major political office will be up for grabs in Massachusetts, and the competition is expected to be fierce. Such political tension opens the door for new ideas, deeper conversations about public policy, and plans for turning visions into reality.

CRJ is seizing this opportunity. We plan to use the 2010 elections to shape the next generation of public safety reform, and we need your help!

CRJ will call upon candidates in 2010 to endorse our Public Safety Leadership Platform (PSLP) and commit to working to improve community safety, save taxpayer dollars, and improve criminal justice outcomes -- by implementing evidence-based practices.

Drawing upon our recent report for the Boston Foundation, titled, “Priorities and Public Safety: Reentry and the Rising Costs of the Corrections System”, CRJ’s 2010 PSLP will call upon candidates to do the following, if elected:

• Demand the use of evidence-based practices as the foundation for public safety policy, programs, and funding;
• Target gaps in the adult and juvenile justice systems that are driving recidivism rates and identify the underlying system failures;
• Redirect public safety agencies to make reducing recidivism a top priority;
• Require public safety agencies to establish uniform data collection and information sharing protocols; and
• Direct corrections’ resources to managing and preparing prisoners at high risk for re-offending for successful transition into the community when they are released.

Tell us how you'd like to help!