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Rhode Island reforms set probationers up for success.
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Wedged between Connecticut and Massachusetts, Rhode Island is the smallest of the fifty states. In 2007, it had some of the biggest criminal justice problems. With one out of every twenty-six adults under correctional control, the second highest percent of its population on probation in the nation, probation sentences that are twice as long as the national average, and 46 % of released prisoners ending up back behind bars within twelve months, it was clear that something had to change. Rhode Island prisons were faced with the severe overcrowding, community dissatisfaction, and budget constraints, but that year policymakers began to make a change.
In 2007, the Counsel of State Governments provided Rhode Island legislators with a comprehensive justice reinvestment analysis. Using that, state policy makers embarked on an exciting journey toward reform. The first steps came that year with a new emphasis on health and drug treatment needs of parolees, assessments of their needs and risks of and resources to keep them from violating their probation and parole terms. The state officials found $4 million to fund the first of these efforts with the aid of Roger Williams Hospital.
Far from done, the 2008 legislative session brought about more changes to the corrections policy and budget. Most importantly they encouraged prisoners to participate in programs that would help them succeed after they got out and required parole boards to use risk assessments. Prisoners could now earn up to ten days per month off their sentences by following rules and by participating in educational, job-training, and substance abuse programming. These changes helped the state save money by incarcerating prisoners for less time, and tackled re-arrest rates by making prisoners more ready to re-enter society as productive citizens.
Did all these changes actually make a difference? Sure enough between 2008 and 2009 Rhode Island enjoyed the largest drop in prison population of any state – 9.2%, rather than continuing to increase as had been predicted. The change in prison population means more than just saving tax-payer dollars. When the prison system is not overcrowded corrections officers can do their jobs better, programs work better, and more prisoners have the chance to experience a positive life transformation. As the director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections explained in an interview with the Christian Science Monitor, "The change has been dramatic, the staff is less harried … there's a sense that we're in charge, a general feeling that things are calmer, more orderly."
Rhode Island legislators have continued to look for ways to improve their justice system in 2010 as well. At the end of June legislation passed to protect probationers from being punished for crimes they had not committed. When probationers are charged with a new crime, but that charge is then dropped or they are found innocent, the mere fact that they were charged with a new offense may no longer be considered a violation of their probation terms. This important change continues the probation reform efforts of the past three years and makes it clearer than ever that the corrections system wants to see offenders and ex-offenders succeed. |
