CRJ Endorses Consolidation, Relocation of Probation in MA
Larivee cited the recent study CRJ's Crime and Justice Institute published with The Boston Foundation that found a dramatic increase in corrections agency spending in Massachusetts over the last decade with little gain to show for it. Moreover, Larivee said, the CRJ/Boston Foundation study found "great disparity in budgeting with probation gaining 163% while parole received an increase of less than 3%."
Larivee described what CRJ has found in other states that have adopted an "evidence-based" approach to managing offenders.
"We find that states such as Connecticut, Kansas, Michigan and Washington have been able to reduce corrections expenditures while realizing reductions in recidivism and gains in public safety," he said.
Larivee said better outcomes can be achieved by establishing a criminal justice system that is characterized by:
- A common mission of public safey and recidivism reduction;
- appropriate targeting of resources for managing and supervising offenders.
- centralized data collection and information sharing to make corrections practices more efficient and effective.
The Massachusetts Office of the Commissioner of Probation is not currently required to make available information to other corrections agencies. Consolidation would improve collaboration, eliminate redundancy, and represent a more efficient use of tax dollars.