Questions We’re Asking

Questions We’re Asking

The first step in finding the best solutions is asking the right questions. Together with our partners and funders, we make sure we’re in a position to answer the questions that matter most to policymakers and practitioners.

Featured Question

Can we reduce pretrial incarceration without increasing risks to the public?

Why are we asking?
The MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research works with national and local criminal justice agencies, policymakers, courts, and community-based organizations to improve the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and the outcomes of individuals involved in it. One focus of the center is studying reforms in the court processes that are used to decide whether people charged with a crime will be detained in jail while awaiting trial.

Working Toward a Solution

Project

MDRC Center for Criminal Justice Research

MDRC’s Center for Criminal Justice Research is dedicated to developing, evaluating, and disseminating actionable models for justice reform that improve efficacy, mitigate harm, and center those directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

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Report

Evaluation of Pretrial Justice System Reforms That Use the Public Safety Assessment

The Public Safety Assessment (PSA) assesses the likelihood that a defendant will commit a new crime or fail to appear for court hearings, information that then can guide decisions about release conditions. This study presents the effects of the PSA and related policy changes in Mecklenburg County, NC.

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Brief

New York City’s Pretrial Supervised Release Program

Defendants awaiting trial and unable to post bail are often detained in local jails unnecessarily, disrupting their lives and adding to costs for taxpayers. To address this situation, New York City has launched a program that gives judges the option to release some defendants to community-based supervision. 

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