This Week in Criminal Justice

FBI Switches Crime Reporting System

The FBI has stopped using one of its primary data collection tools—the Summary Reporting System (S.R.S.). SRS was phased out because of two issues. One, SRS data collection was based on a hierarchy, meaning if two crimes were committed only the most serious was reported. Two, SRS only had seven crime categories, leaving some crimes underreported. The FBI will now use the National Incident Based Response System (NIBRS), which collects a wider data swath. Experts acknowledge that the transition is likely to cause issues that will make analyzing crime trends more difficult in the short term. For instance, it's unclear how many local agencies (police, sheriffs, etc.) are prepared to start using the new system, which may lead to less reported data until the transition is complete. It’s also projected that “eliminating the hierarchy rule” will increase the number of crimes reported, artificially swelling crime numbers. However, long term, the FBI is confident that NIBRS will provide a more accurate picture of crime and victimization.

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Louisiana Preparing to Increase Drug Court Funding

Within the next six months, Louisiana should receive a series of payments from companies accused of profiting from the opioid epidemic. The first payment is $6.9 million, and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said the state will be funneling it and the anticipated payments into the state’s drug court system. According to Landry, the payments would allow “Louisiana to increase drug court funding by more than $14 million per year for at least 10-15 years.” The state currently has 75 drug and specialty courts, but 13 districts do not have a court, and the ones operating do so on extremely limited funds. The additional funding will be used to “pay for testing, assessing, supervising and treating participants.”

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Pennsylvania’s Prison Vaccine Program Seems Effective

Two Pennsylvania prisons—Laurel Highlands and Muncy—have vaccinated more than 70 percent of their population. Both prisons worked to promote vaccine confidence and provided a monetary incentive for individuals who participated in the vaccination program. Individuals who take the vaccine are provided with a $25 commissary credit to buy clothes, food, or other items. The incentive program was financed by a “General Welfare Fund, which is generated by fines and fees paid by [facility residents].” 

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Webinar: Application Mechanics: Submitting an Application

• Steps to take before applying for funding
• How to find open DOJ funding opportunities in Grants.gov
• How to apply for funding using JustGrants
• The JustGrants roles and their responsibilities and required actions
• How to navigate and use JustGrants to submit your application
• Where to find training materials, job aids, and other resources

quote of the week

“Without a clear understanding of the impact of their juvenile record, an untold number of people simply choose not to continue their education or pursue certain employment opportunities. The good news is that state policymakers can help reduce these restrictions to school and work for people with juvenile records with policy solutions that are easy to implement and largely cost-neutral.” 

Megan Quattlebaum, Director of the CSG Justice Center

In Depth

4 Ways to Reduce Barriers for People with Juvenile Records

While juvenile records are sealed, there are still collateral consequences that can create barriers for youths attempting to find employment or complete their education, especially for youth of color. A new study released by the Council of State Government’s Justice Center (CSGJC) analyzed the issue and presented three main findings.
 
One, current statutes that limit collateral consequences “may not achieve their intended purpose in practice.” Two, many colleges and employers ask individuals about their “criminal history and/or require background checks,” but don’t make a distinction “between juvenile adjudications and adult convictions.” Three, the relief systems states do have in place to minimize collateral consequences for juveniles have limited success due to “significant exceptions, procedural challenges, and a lack of transparency and public education.”
 
The study authors note that these policies result in long-term negative impacts for the impacted youth and the community, and recommend legislators consider four steps to address the issue.
 

1. “Establish overarching state law that clearly distinguishes juvenile adjudications from criminal convictions and that prohibits inquiry into and consideration of adjudications in education and employment decisions.”
2. “Make all juvenile arrest and court records and associated information presumptively confidential at all times with limited exceptions for clearly designated public safety purposes.”
3.  “Ensure that record clearance processes are universal, automatic, and free of charge.”
4.  “Establish mechanisms to ensure that people who become involved with the juvenile justice system are informed about the consequences of an adjudication as well as their rights and obligations.”

Read Full Study

In Case You Missed It

• Majority of New York state court proceedings will stay virtual
• Virginia Governor clears path for former felons to regain voting rights
• Editorial: Can We Train Cops to be ‘Problem-Solvers’ Instead of Warriors?
• Maryland bill would prohibit charging children 13 and younger with crimes
• Kansas lawmakers take up backlog of court cases caused by pandemic

Worth a Watch

Earlier in this issue, we explored the FBI’s transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Still curious? In this short video, you can learn more about the history of NIBRS,  how it works, and why the FBI decided to make the transition

Watch it

RECONNECT QUESTION

The transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is in full swing. How do you think will it impact crime reporting and trend analysis? Let us know on Twitter—@TryReconnect. #ReconnectQuestion

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Image Credits

NIBRS, FBI Seal, Megan Quattlebaum