Safety, Health, and Renewal: Two recommendations to help the American Rescue Plan’s Recovery Funds promote trauma recovery and public health

Alliance for Safety and Justice submitted public comment to the U.S. Department of Treasury on its Interim Final Rule for the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to recommend the inclusion of language that ensures states: 1) can explicitly use the funding to support crime victims, including for trauma recovery and other services; and 2) promote a public-health based recovery by discouraging use of the funds for expenses that undermine social determinants of health, such as incarceration.


How to realize the state’s vision for effective community supervision to STOP the cycle of crime

Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) conducted an analysis of data related to Texas community supervision practices to help advance data-driven reforms that strengthen the effective use of criminal justice resources, further reduce recidivism and stabilize families. The analysis points to some signs that the probation system is not operating as safely and effectively as it could. Data demonstrates that many thousands of people sentenced to probation fail the terms of their probation and are re-incarcerated, or opt to serve time in jail instead of probation when probation should be the more effective sentence, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Best practices in community supervision can reduce probation failures and incarceration costs, and more effectively stop the cycle of crime.


Effective Reentry Partnerships for Communities

Many people returning to the community from prisons and jails will face challenges such as accessing benefits and services, including medical care; access to technology and Wi-fi to connect to services virtually; and safe housing. The corrections services continuum needs to effectively manage these rapid releases to ensure that people return to their communities with the tools they need to be safe and avoid new crimes, and to know if they are carrying the coronavirus to avoid new outbreaks.