What Works In Community Policing? A Best Practices Context For Measure Y Efforts In this Best Practices report, Sarah Lawrence and Bobby McCarthy provide a brief history of the Community Policing movement in the United States and provide examples of successful Community Policing initiatives implemented by a variety of police departments in cities across the country. This report looks at community policing in context nationwide as part of a broader effort to assist policymakers in the City of Oakland in their 10-year evaluation of the Violence Prevention and Public Safety Act of 2004 (Measure Y). This is the first of three reports the Warren Institute produced in 2013-2014 as part of the Measure Y evaluation for the City of Oakland, in partnership with Resource Development Associates.
Crime Trends in the City of Oakland: A 25-Year Look (1987-2012) In this quantitative crime trend analysis, Bobby McCarthy and Sarah Lawrence examine long-term crime trends in the City of Oakland over a 25-year period to provide context for how crime in the city has trended before and after the passage of Measure Y. This report presents aggregate crime data and crime rates, as well as the rates of the seven major violent and property crime types. Additionally, crime rates for the City of Oakland are compared to the State of California as well as four select comparison cities within the state to provide City officials with a context for how Oakland’s crime rate has tracked relative to state and regional trends over the last quarter-century. This is the second of three reports the Warren Institute produced in 2013-2014 as part of the Measure Y evaluation for the City of Oakland, in partnership with Resource Development Associates.
Where and When Does Crime Happen in Oakland: A Temporal and Spatial Analysis (January 2008 – July 2013) In this geo-spatial and temporal analysis on crime in Oakland, Bobby McCarthy and Sarah Lawrence examine how crime in Oakland is distributed by neighborhood, police district, season, day of week, and time of day over a 5 ½ year period ending July 2013. This report is intended to assist Oakland policymakers in making informed decisions about public safety investments and future community-policing initiatives in the city, and is the third of three reports the Warren Institute produced in 2013-2014 as part of the Measure Y evaluation for the City of Oakland in partnership with Resource Development Associates.
FACT SHEET: Police, Prisons, and Public Safety in California
A growing body of research suggests that investing in police rather than expanding corrections is a more effective public safety strategy for California. Yet statewide, the number of police officers has been steadily declining while the number of corrections staff has been increasing. For a Fact Sheet on policing and prisons, click here.
An Evaluation of Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative: JDAI Sites Compared to Home State Totals
The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a long-term juvenile justice reform effort of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This effort is based on the belief that detaining youth unnecessarily or for longer than necessary to accomplish the objectives of justice actually worsens outcomes for youth and puts them more at risk for future involvement with the justice system.Warren researchers evaluated the impact of the JDAI model by examining the use of detention in jurisdictions that applied the initiative’s major principles. The most useful measure is Average Daily Population (ADP) in youth detention facilities. ADP in JDAI sites in comparison to the total for the state as a whole forms the primary lens through which to assess JDAI. In addition, the report looks at changes in the use of long-term commitment and youth arrest data. Overall, the JDAI sites show a decrease in the use of youth detention greater than that of the state as a whole. To view summary, click here.
Real Justice: Victims’ Rights Delivered (Report and Recommendations): The Warren Institute partnered in convening a summit in Sacramento on May 14–15, 2012 addressing the state of crime victims’ rights and services statewide. The purpose of this unprecedented event was to bring together leaders, experts, and service providers from around the state in order to identify and confront a range of challenges in the field, including the implementation of Marsy’s Law. The Warren Institute’s Report and Recommendations capture the content and ideas presented through all keynote presentations and interactive breakout sessions. This publication aims to inform the future of victims’ policy and build the capacity of California in becoming a national role model for the delivery of criminal justice system-based victims’ rights and services.
California in Context: How Does California’s Criminal Justice System Compare to Other States?In this research brief, Sarah Lawrence examines how California compares to other states across a range of criminal justice measures. The brief looks at population measures related to probation, jail, prison, and parole to help provide a better understanding of the criminal justice system in California.
Putting California’s Public Safety Realignment in Context: An Overview of Fiscal Decentralization This issue brief looks at the current public safety realignment in California through a different lens. It steps back from the current realignment to look at the philosophical and historical underpinning of fiscal centralization. It examines the literature and past realignments in the state to highlight both the promises and pitfalls from this type of decentralization.
Exploring the Role of the Police in Prisoner Reentry
One thing is certain for nearly all prisoners who are in state and federal custody: they will come back. Traditionally, the police have played little part in facilitating the reentry of prisoners into the community. A new paper by Jeremy Travis of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Chief Ronald Davis of the East Palo Alto Police Department, and Sarah Lawrence of the Warren Institute argue that police, particularly urban police departments, have a major role to play in prisoner reentry, in part because of high recidivism rates among returning offenders and because of their concentration in some of the poorest, highest-crime neighborhoods. Greater involvement of the police in prisoner reentry can promote public safety and increase police legitimacy, particularly in communities of color, through enhanced community policing efforts. The topic is particularly relevant in California in the context of realignment.The paper is part of the New Perspectives in Policing Series, which is supported by the National Institute of Justice.
A Complex and Compassionate Response: The Role of Victim / Witness Assistance Centers in Responding to Violence Against Women in California
This report provides the first-ever comprehensive look at California’s 59 Victim/Witness Assistance Centers (VWACs), providing government-based crisis and support services to victims of crime in every county and the City of Los Angeles. Specifically it focuses on role of VWACs in responding to one of the most vulnerable population of crime victims – women victims of violence. Among other findings, the report identifies a lack of adequate financial support to consistently deliver even minimal rights and services mandated by law. The report was funded by the California Emergency Management Association (CAL EMA) and in partnership with the California District Attorneys’ Association (CDAA) and the California Crime Victims Assistance Association (CCVAA).
Thinking Critically about Realignment in California
A report released by the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy gives journalists, advocates, community members and others the information they need to understand, ask the right questions, and reach their own conclusions about realignment. The report explains in plain language the changes made by realignment, highlights existing tension points, and sets out issues to watch for in the future.
Improving Juvenile Justice Policy in California: A Closer Look at Transfer Laws’ Impact on Young Men & Boys of Color Jennifer Lynn-Whaley and Andrea Russi at Berkeley Law’s Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law & Social Policy take a deeper look at juvenile transfer laws in California, exploring the circumstances under which they evolved, how they impact youth of color, and whether they indeed improve public safety and reduce recidivism. This policy brief includes recommendations and examples of promising approaches.
Realignment: A Bold New Era in California Corrections
This policy brief provides Dr. Barry Krisberg’s observations on the realignment in the California criminal justice system. Beginning on October 1, 2011, AB 109 requires that counties, rather than the state, will be responsible for newly convicted offenders who are deemed to be non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offenders. Counties will also take over supervision of state parolees whose last offense was not violent or a sex offense, and low-risk parole violators. The brief provides a brief overview of the reasons for realignment, its challenges, and key steps for making local plans a success.
The Long and Winding Road: Juvenile Corrections Reform in California by Barry Krisberg
This paper provides some general observations on the successes and challenges faced in implementing the reforms of the California Division of Juvenile Justice (formerly known as the California Youth Authority (CYA)). This year California Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the complete closing of the DJJ with funding going to the localities to manage the remaining youthful offender population. California is on track to be the first U.S. state to close all of its state juvenile facilities.
Reaching a Higher Ground: Increasing Employment Opportunities for People with Prior Convictions (November, 2010)
*Full Report *Executive Summary