Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2020, $150,000)
The State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program is designed to maintain and enhance each state's capacity to address criminal justice issues through collection and analysis of data. The SJS Program provides support to each state to coordinate and conduct statistical activities within the state, conduct research to estimate impacts of legislative and policy changes, and serve as a liaison in assisting BJS to gather data from respondent agencies within their states.
The Statistical Analysis Center for the District of Columbia (DC SAC) was established in 2001 by a Mayoral Executive Order to provide a division dedicated to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of criminal justice system information. The DC SAC was originally a unit of the Office of Research, Analysis, and Evaluation under the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice. In March 2004, the DC SAC, pursuant to a Mayoral Order,3 was transferred to the CJCC.
The CJCC is an independent agency that serves as a forum for the federal, judicial, and District criminal justice agency members to identify and address system-wide public safety issues in the District. CJCC was established by the Council of the District of Columbia and Congress.
The DC SAC, as the research arm of the CJCC, provides the data, research and analytical support needed by the CJCC to inform their activities and support decisions. The mission of the DC SAC is to provide clear and objective data analysis on crime, crime trends and criminal justice issues. The DC SAC also provides statistical information and technical support to District agencies. The DC SACs analysis and reports informs program development and legislative policies within the District.
Under the FY 20 SJS project, the DC SAC will build off of the effort in prior years to support the successful reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals, including the launch of the READY (Resources to Empower and Develop You) Center in February 2019. The READY Center is a one-stop shop where formerly incarcerated District residents, whether returning from the local jail or from a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, can access critical post-release services, obtain vital documents, and get connected to substance use disorder and mental health services and aftercare. These services and supports are provided in the hopes of preventing their return to the justice system.
The DOC oversees the READY Center, but at present, it does not have the capability to capture data on the reentry experiences of individuals who have used READY Center services. Capturing and analyzing data on reentry-related variables will allow the District and DOC to improve in-facility and READY Center offerings and will inform reentry practices. (CA/NCF)