Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice Reform topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Research group briefs committee on evidence‑based reforms for policing, prisons and reentry
Summary
Jennifer Dolyak of Arnold Ventures presented research on clearance rates, cognitive behavioral therapy programs, prison-unit experiments and incentives for rehabilitation; members questioned metrics, program evaluation, and implementation challenges.
Jennifer Dolyak, an economist leading Arnold Ventures' criminal-justice program, briefed the committee on evidence‑based reforms including tracking clearance rates, expanding access to mental‑health care, cognitive behavioral therapy paired with incentives, and randomized trials of Scandinavian‑style correctional units. She said raising the certainty and swiftness of consequences rather than solely increasing severity has the strongest evidence for deterrence.
Members asked about why clearance rates have fallen despite better technology, how to measure program effectiveness, and whether certain offenses (nonfatal shootings, burglary, motor‑vehicle theft) are especially under‑cleared. Dolyak recommended better linkage of police, prosecutor and court records, randomized evaluations where possible, and pilot programs with measurable outcomes. Committee members thanked the presenter and indicated interest in model legislation and further collaboration.
