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Redesigning Life in U.S. Prisons

July 2024
Series

The prison system in the U.S. typically places a heavy emphasis on security, control, and punishment, and this foundation can create an adversarial culture within correctional facilities — incarcerated individuals versus correctional staff. But what if that culture could change? What would it look like? How would it impact not only incarcerated individuals but also correctional officers and other staff?

The impact of CVI

July 2024
Leaders and community advocates share their perspectives on the critical role of community violence intervention (CVI) in building safer neighborhoods. Through a series of interview clips, they discuss how empowering individuals with lived experiences, fostering leadership, and implementing grassroots efforts can lead to meaningful change.

Updating Body Armor Standards to Protect Police

May 2024

A bullet can strike a police officer in a blink, so their body armor must be proven to work. Feeling more under fire than ever, the law enforcement community is raising the standards for ballistic-resistant police body armor to stop more rifle bullets, like those often used by active shooters, in an effort led by OJP’s National Institute of Justice.

Closing Cases Using Gunshot Residue

May 2024

Not every crime scene will have definitive evidence, such as DNA, to link an individual to a crime. In those cases, law enforcement relies on other evidence to build the burden of proof. NIJ graduate research fellow Dr. Shelby Khandasammy developed a tool to analyze organic gunshot residue and distinguish between different firearms calibers and manufacturers. She joins Marie Garcia, office director for the Office of Criminal Justice Systems at NIJ, to talk about her work and experience as a research fellow. 

Enhancing Corrections Spaces and Cultures

May 2024

The nations prisons and jails are struggling to recruit and retain staff. These staffing challenges impact re-entry efforts and overall public safety. In this episode of Justice Today, hear from Bureau of Justice Assistance former fellow Dr. Danielle Rudes on how leaders can make correctional institutions better for staff and residents.

Read the corresponding blog post.

OJJDP Administrator Ryan Announces FY23 Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success Award

April 2024

On April 11, 2024, OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan announced the inaugural cohort of grantees for the FY 2023 Building Local Continuums of Care To Support Youth Success initiative. Awards total more than $17 million to 23 grantees and 3 training and technical assistance providers. This initiative is designed to prevent youth from entering or moving deeper into the juvenile justice system.

Employing Mental Health Clinicians to Improve Police Outcomes

February 2024

Law enforcement agencies are teaming up with mental health clinicians to improve behavioral health responses and allow police officers to focus on crime reduction.

In this episode of Justice Today, our host discusses how Denver police work side-by-side with mental health clinicians to treat residents experiencing mental health emergencies and connect them with treatment.