Promote smart decarceration

The United States has the world’s largest proportion of people behind bars. Mass incarceration and failed rehabilitation have resulted in staggering economic and human costs. Our challenge is to develop a proactive, comprehensive, evidence-based “smart decarceration” strategy that will dramatically reduce the number of people who are imprisoned and enable the nation to embrace a more effective and just approach to public safety.

WEBSITE: Center for Social Development Smart Decarceration Initiative

WEBSITE: Smart Decarceration Project at The University of Chicago

WEBSITE: Institute for Justice Research and Development at Florida State University

Brief Description Student Engagement in PSD

Network Leadership

Network Co-Leads:

Pajarita Charles University of Wisconsin-Madison

Matt Epperson University of Chicago

Ashley Jackson Rutgers

Charles Lea Columbia University

Durrell Washington University of Chicago

Working Groups

Concept Paper

From Mass Incarceration to Smart Decarceration

Additional Background Information

Policy Recommendations

2024 Policy recommendations for meeting the Grand Challenge to Promote Smart Decarceration

2016 Policy recommendations for meeting the Grand Challenge to Promote Smart Decarceration

Publications

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July 30, 2024

2024 Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenges for Social Work

July 2024 Ahead of a major election year, several of the Grand Challenge networks have created briefs detailing policy recommendations... more

October 25, 2022

Promote Smart Decarceration and Eliminate Racism Grand Challenges for Social Work: Reimagining Marijuana Policy

Abstract Marijuana decriminalization and legalization policies are being passed in many state and local jurisdictions throughout the United States (U.S.).... more

December 1, 2021

Integrating Smart Decarceration Content Across Social Work Curricula

Integrating Smart Decarceration Content Across Social Work Curricula Authors: Diane S. Young, Kathi R. Trawver, Abril N. Harris & Daniel Jacob... more

Network Resources

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May 16, 2024

Grand Challenges for Social Work Publication List

This sheet can be used as a resource for searching through publications involving the Grand Challenges. These citations were... more

January 22, 2021

Promote Smart Decarceration – Five Year Impact

The Grand Challenges for Social Work released a 5-year impact report on January 22, 2021. “Progress and Plans for the... more

September 11, 2019

Social Work and Criminal Justice Website

This website was created by the SDI co-founders and promotes social work research and teaching in the area of criminal... more

Out Now: 2024 Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenges for Social Work!