Program Director for Transitional Housing Spreads Hope to Men Seeking a Second Chance
The Refinery, an Opelousas, Louisiana-based program for men seeking successful transition to stable life in the community, was spotlighted as part of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) Return For Good initiative. The Refinery was one of the first organizations participating in DPS&C’s Emergency and Transitional Housing program in 2019. Funding short-term and transitional housing for people under supervision in the community or recently released from custody who are at immediate risk of homelessness, the program is an outgrowth of Louisiana’s comprehensive 2017 justice reform package resulting from the state’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). 

Louisiana’s New Women’s Prison Designed for Opportunity and Rehabilitation
As Louisiana continues working to reduce its incarcerated population, state leaders are ensuring that a new prison meets the unique needs of women involved with the criminal justice system. A 2016 flood left Louisiana’s women’s prison uninhabitable. Building a new facility from the ground up provided state leadership with an opportunity to rethink how a women’s prison should look, feel, and operate—especially in light of lessons learned from the Louisiana Women’s Incarceration Task Force.

Nevada Launches One-Stop Shop for Justice System Data
The Nevada Department of Sentencing Policy (NDSP) recently launched an online dashboard, providing public access to a wealth of justice system data for the first time. The dashboard presents incarceration trends at Nevada Department of Corrections facilities, including population count, admissions, and releases, and allows users to parse data using different variables, such as date, geography, and demographic characteristics. The data are updated monthly.

Nebraska Yearly Corrections Spending Tops Half a Billion Dollars
This November 2022 article highlights findings from the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) related to Nebraska's Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) efforts. During a September event, CJI discussed lessons from and next steps for the state’s JRI, for which CJI provided technical assistance starting in 2021. In addition to reporting on the staggering costs of corrections spending, CJI’s presentation highlighted other challenges to Nebraska’s justice system and also provided data-driven policy solutions.

Department of Justice Awards More Than $38 Million to Promote Reforms in the Justice System
This December 22, 2021, Office of Justice Programs press release highlights fiscal year 2021 awards made through various Bureau of Justice Assistance programs, including the Justice Reinvestment Initiative.