The dynamics, opportunities, and constraints around local justice reform have changed tremendously since the Safety and Justice Challenge began working to safely reduce local jail populations in 2015. This session shares insights on what has changed in local justice innovation over the past decade, critical lessons that should be applied to future changes, and the possibilities and challenges local changemakers face as they seek to make their communities safer and their justice systems fairer and more effective. 

Speakers 

• Nida Abbasi, Senior Program Officer, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• Javier Aguirre, Director, Santa Clara County Office of Diversion and Reentry Services
• Jesse Jannetta, Senior Fellow, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute
• Marc Levin, Chief Policy Counsel, Council on Criminal Justice
• Lisel Petis, Policy Director, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, R Street Institute

Local Lessons on Rethinking Jail Use 

There are nearly 8 million admissions to local jails annually in the United States. Jails have received little attention until recently, despite impacting so many lives, consuming significant fiscal resources, and bearing the brunt of public safety and disorder challenges. Launched in 2015, the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) sought to change the way America thinks about and uses jails. More than 50 local criminal justice systems in communities nationwide became part of the SJC network and innovated to reduce jail incarceration in ways that improve public safety, address disparities, promote stronger, healthier communities, and reduce the financial costs associated with incarceration. 

Local Lessons on Rethinking Jail Use is a webinar series organized by the Urban Institute that will share practical lessons from this work, to assist decisionmakers in right-sizing their local use of jails to best support public safety, judicious use of limited resources, and community well-being. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event. 

Support for this event is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as part of the Safety and Justice Challenge, which seeks to safely reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails. For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to urban.org/about/organizational-principles.