Publications

Len Engel
Alyson Boehler
Richard Luedeman
2010

This report examines the current structure of corrections in Massachusetts, focusing on the vital role probation plays in protecting the public, and how other states carry out probation responsibilities. The report also incorporates the research showing the necessary elements of an effective and efficient probation system and what Massachusetts leaders should focus on as they work to restore the Probation Department as an effective and collaborative partner in the criminal justice system.

Author: Leonard Engel
2008

This report is a ‘call to action’ for Massachusetts state leaders to implement a systemic approach to offender reentry, one that involves traditional as well as non-traditional agencies and collaborates with community leaders and service providers. A collaborative approach is necessary to overcome the inherent limitations of changing criminal justice policy.

Authors: Claire Kaplan and Len Engel
A Workforce and Public Safety Imperative
2007

The Crime and Justice Institute and the Boston Foundation convened a Task Force in June 2006, consisting of 14 leaders from the nonprofit, law enforcement, academic and business communities to kindle discussion and debate the barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records. Co-chaired by Betsy Pattullo, President and CEO of Beacon Health Strategies and Bob Gittens, Vice President of Public Affairs at Northeastern University, the task force went well beyond its original objective to identify opportunities that increase access to employment in the health and human service field for low-risk, qualified applicants with CORI, while continuing to protect vulnerable populations. This report makes a series of recommendations designed to improve criminal justice outcomes for the benefit of ex-offenders, communities, employers and to expand the skilled workforce in the Commonwealth.

Authors: Lore Joplin, Elyse Clawson with Tonya Ruscoe, Pam Curtis, Robert Cushman, and Mike Jones
2008

CJI has been working with Multnomah County, Oregon to develop a public safety plan designed to assist decision makers in building and maintaining the most balanced, effective, and cohesive public safety system possible within available resources. The resulting “Multnomah County Public Safety System Planning Report” is the result of a six-month study that brought together judges, police officers, prosecutors, parole officers, victims advocates, treatment providers and other public safety experts to identify gaps in the system and to prioritize investments that are most likely to reduce crime.

Sponsored by Massachusetts the Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPS), the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) completed a series of roundtable discussions that examined significant issues in offender reentry. Entitled the Crime & Justice Institute Reentry Roundtables, this project focused on three, distinct aspects of offender reentry, two of which culminated in large public events featuring moderated panels discussing the impact of offender reentry on high crime communities and the unique issues of female offenders in reentry. The third part of the project included original research on the hiring decisions of employers and a final report on the findings and recommendations of the Advisory Group.