CSGJC setting standards for, and improving of, corrections departments’ analytical capacity to enable more informed planning and decision making to improve prison operations

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center requests $1,000,000 in funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to continue assisting Departments of Corrections (DOC) across the United States to build data analyst capacities to engage in data-informed planning and decision-making, ultimately leading to improvements in the operations and safety of prisons nationally. The CSG Justice Center will expand corrections agencies’ capacity to collect, analyze, and use data in order to make informed and proactive decisions to facilitate change in a safe environment; sustain engagement with key stakeholders to help develop and support communities of practice; and demonstrate the value of corrections analysis to increase uptake of techniques and use of resulting analysis.  

The CSG Justice Center will conduct a 50-state survey of correctional analysts to assess data availability, resources, and analytic capacity; identify core competencies for analysts and create recruitment materials; continue to develop methodological and substantive standards for analysis; develop standards for cross-system sharing, reporting, and privacy adherence; facilitate self-guided training; and create model code and DOC report repositories. We will also continue to convene the Correctional Research Leaders Advisory Council, facilitate the analyst forum and seminar series and peer-to-peer mentoring program;  offer office hours and technical assistance; as well as launch a series of virtual webinars to heighten awareness of resources and tools that we develop under the award. We will also continue to plan for a 50-state convening to occur during year two or three of the project period. 

We have led this project since 2022 and have also worked in more than 30 states to collect, link, and analyze millions of data elements. We have worked hand-in-hand with policymakers and DOC analysts to understand and improve their data and to deliver data-drive recommendations for changes to policy and practice. This experience allowed the CSG Justice Center to develop a deep understanding of the inner workings of DOCs, their data and data systems, and the challenges they face.

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center requests $3,000,000 in funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to continue assisting Departments of Corrections (DOCs) to build data analyst capacities to engage in data-informed planning and decision-making, build out DOC data infrastructure, and help DOC leaders integrate data analysis in practices, tools, and reporting and management. Under the umbrella of the Advancing Data in Corrections (ADC) program, we will help DOCs improve the operations and safety of prisons nationally through the Resident Analyst Program and the Virtual Academy Program.

With supplemental funding, the CSG Justice Center will expand the RA Program to reach more DOCs; train agency analysts and leadership to meet core competencies; and develop trainings, resources, and peer communities to implement standards. For the RA Program, we will place additional corrections analysts in state DOCs, provide intensive mentoring to the analysts, and create foundational onboarding trainings courses for corrections analysts. For the VA program, we will develop self-guided training for corrections analysts and finalize the report and model code repositories. In support of both programs, we will facilitate the analyst community forum and seminar series, offer peer-to-peer mentoring opportunities, host office hours, offer limited engagements, enhance the VA website, and create final briefs on both programs.   

We have led the Virtual Academy project since 2022 and the RA project since 2023. We have also worked in more than 30 states to collect, link, and analyze millions of data elements. We have worked hand-in-hand with policymakers and DOC analysts to understand and improve their data and to deliver data-drive recommendations for changes to policy and practice. This experience allowed the CSG Justice Center to develop a deep understanding of the inner workings of DOCs, their data and data systems, and the challenges they face