Action taken by the General Assembly nearly four years ago changing the state’s prison and probation strategies appears to be paying dividends, both financially and in the number of repeat offenders, notes a recent study.
The Council of State Governments Justice Center has released a study showing that the 2011 Justice Reinvestment Act resulted in $48 million in savings during the 2013-14 fiscal year and contributed to the closure of 10 prisons. In addition, with fewer people incarcerated, North Carolina taxpayers avoided having to pay $500 million to build and operate new prisons.
The report noted the bipartisan nature of the Justice Reinvestment Act. Work on the legislation began when Democrats held majorities in the General Assembly. The efforts became law after Republicans gained control of the legislative branch.
“The prison population has dropped 8 percent, or by almost 3,400 people, since fiscal year 2011,” the report notes. “Overall prison admissions have dropped by 21 percent as a result of fewer people entering prison for misdemeanor convictions and probation revocations.”
Key elements in the success of the program include giving probation officers more time and tools to supervise felons being released from prison and requiring felons to have more supervision upon release from prison.
“In fiscal year 2009, more than 85 percent of people leaving prison who had been convicted of felony offenses under structured sentencing — about 15,000 people — left prison without any supervision as they transitioned back into the community, despite having significantly higher re-arrest rates than individuals who received supervision after release,” the report notes.
The Justice Reinvestment Act now requires every person with a felony conviction to receive nine or 12 months of post-release supervision, the report says.
Probation officers have more tools at their disposal to supervise probationers. Previously, they were required to request a court hearing to modify probation conditions after violations. Now they’re given more leeway in responding to violations swiftly.
Probation officers have the option of immediately placing probationers in behavioral programming, substance use treatment, or under electronic monitoring. Probationers who repeatedly violate conditions of their probation but are not committing new crimes or absconding are sent back to prison for three months, followed by a return to supervision upon release.
In addition, the Department of Public Safety has developed a smart phone app to help keep track of probationers. It helps officers search their caseloads, schedule visits, access contact information, and acquire driving directions. It also helps them check a probationer’s criminal history and learn if there are any pertinent safety issues.
The efforts are helping offenders succeed while on probation, making it less likely they will return to prison, the report says.
Barry Smith (@Barry_Smith) is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.