Justice Reinvestment Initiative: Training and Technical Assistance for Site-based JRI Projects.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) has a distinguished reputation for supporting states and localities in the development of data-driven approaches to reducing violent crime and recidivism and improving public safety, drawing upon best practices in law enforcement, prosecution, sentencing, corrections, parole, re-entry, and probation. In partnership with the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), CNA has supported 24 JRI sites as the sole training and technical assistance (TTA) provider for site-based JRI projects since 2018. CNA has developed an intimate understanding of the challenges that sites face as they engage in the JRI five-step process of engaging stakeholders, analyzing data/identifying drivers, developing innovative responses, implementing the responses, and measuring outcomes. Our team is responsive, adaptable, and able to develop a personalized understanding of each site’s capacities and needs, and we are keenly in tune with each site’s operational realities, making us the best TTA provider to continue supporting JRI sites.

CNA’s approach builds on successful experience providing national TTA for numerous BJA programs over the past decade, including the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), Strategies for Policing Innovation (SPI), and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This experience provides BJA with a low-risk approach and a team that is familiar with BJA’s preferred TTA approaches, methods, and expectations for quality. Our TTA includes four overarching design elements that will enable sites to effectively achieve their JRI initiatives and improve the performance of the justice system:

• Effective Project Management. CNA leadership team members are skilled at managing and monitoring numerous TTA programs and activities, effectively collaborating with other JRI TTA providers, and sharing information with BJA and DOJ partners to ensure projects are planned and implemented in tandem.

• Technical Expertise. JRI sites may request targeted assistance on a specific topic. CNA and BJA will determine the appropriate expert and level of assistance to provide support for each site. We will ensure the assistance is additive, does not duplicate other JRI support, and leverages existing resources.

• Communication & Dissemination. CNA will develop webinars featuring experts discussing various JRI TTA topics. Our webinars will incorporate case studies, site-based presenters, real-world scenarios, practical exercises, and exchanges to institutionalize learning objectives and ensure lasting results.

• Peer-to-Peer Learning. Peer-to-peer learning enables colleagues to exchange information on the application of promising practices and violent crime solutions within their agency. CNA will support in-person and virtual peer exchanges that focus on cost-effective and scalable solutions.