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Research papers on Criminal justice reform

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  1. Risk Assessment in Criminal Sentencing

    John T Monahan, Jennifer L. Skeem · 2015 · Annual Review of Clinical Psychology · 256 citations

    The past several years have seen a surge of interest in using risk assessment in criminal sentencing, both to reduce recidivism by incapacitating or treating high-risk offenders and to reduce prison populations by diverting low-risk offenders from prison. We begin by sketching jurisprudential theories of sentencing, distinguishing those that rely on risk assessment from those that preclude it. We then characterize and illustrate the varying roles that risk assessment may play in the sentencing process. We clarify questions regarding the various meanings of "risk" in sentencing and the appropriate time to assess the risk of convicted offenders. We conclude by addressing four principal problem

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  2. Savry Risk Assessment in Violent Dutch Adolescents: Relation to Sentencing and Recidivism

    Henny P.B. Lodewijks, Theo A.H. Doreleijers, Corine De Ruiter · 2008 · Criminal Justice and Behavior · 61 citations

    This study examines the predictive validity of the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) by examining relationships between SAVRY scores and violent reoffending during a 3-year period after sentencing. Two types of sentences were studied: a mandatory treatment order ( N = 77) and a juvenile prison sentence ( N = 40). The predictive validity of the SAVRY was significant for the two types of sentences. The predictive validity of the unstructured clinical judgment proved to be not significant. Support was found for the hypothesis that the juvenile court's sentence (treatment versus detention) might have been influenced by the unstructured clinical risk assessment of the mental

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  4. Ghosting the Machine: Judicial Resistance to a Recidivism Risk Assessment Instrument

    Dasha Pruss · 2023 · Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency · 36 citations

    Recidivism risk assessment instruments are presented as an ‘evidence-based’ strategy for criminal justice reform – a way of increasing consistency in sentencing, replacing cash bail, and reducing mass incarceration. In practice, however, AI-centric reforms can simply add another layer to the sluggish, labyrinthine machinery of bureaucratic systems and are met with internal resistance. Through a community-informed interview-based study of 23 criminal judges and other criminal legal bureaucrats in Pennsylvania, I find that judges overwhelmingly ignore a recently-implemented sentence risk assessment instrument, which they disparage as “useless,” “worthless,” “boring,” “a waste of time,” “a non-

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  8. Short-Term Imprisonment of Independence Penalty from the Perspective of Punishment Objectives as Criminal Law Reform in Indonesia

    Ratri Novita Erdianti, Bagas Ranendra Pratama, Muhamad Helmi Md Said · 2025 · Indonesia Law Reform Journal · 5 citations

    This article examines the effectiveness of short-term imprisonment in Indonesia, focusing on its inherent limitations such as prisonisation, overcrowding, and persistent recidivism. Employing a normative juridical approach supported by correctional statistics, the study evaluates whether short custodial sentences fulfil the intended purposes of punishment. The findings indicate that such sanctions rarely deter offenders, fail to support rehabilitation, and hinder social reintegration, thereby exposing a significant gap between the theoretical aims of criminal law and the realities of correctional practice. The analysis highlights how reliance on short-term imprisonment exacerbates systemic c

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  9. OxRec model for assessing risk of recidivism: ethics

    Derek W Braverman, Samuel N Doernberg, C. Runge, et al. · 2016 · The lancet. Psychiatry · 5 citations

    Concerned by the increasing use of actuarial risk assessments in our criminal justice system and worldwide, we read with interest the Article (June, 2016)1 by Seena Fazel and colleagues presenting the derivation and validation of one such model, OxRec, in Sweden. Typically, these tools use a variety of factors, such as criminal, medical, and demographic information, to calculate an individual’s risk of either recidivism generally or committing specific, usually violent, crimes.2 Assessments are then used to set sentences, determine conditions and time of parole, and target post-release interventions, among other applications depending on local laws.2,3 Furthermore, the Sentencing Reform and

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  11. Reforming Criminal Justice: Evaluating the Efficacy of Restorative Justice Practices in Reducing Recidivism Rates

    Saurabh Singla · 2024 · Indian Journal of Law. · 5 citations

    Restorative justice practices have gained traction as alternative approaches to traditional punitive measures within criminal justice systems worldwide. This paper seeks to evaluate the efficacy of restorative justice practices in reducing recidivism rates. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, empirical studies, and case analyses, we examine the impact of restorative justice programs on recidivism outcomes among offenders. By comparing recidivism rates between participants in restorative justice interventions and those subjected to conventional punitive measures, we aim to assess the relative effectiveness of restorative justice in preventing repeat offenses. Furthermore, w

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  12. Reprogramming Recidivism: The First Step Act and Algorithmic Prediction of Risk

    Amy B. Cyphert · 2021 · SSRN Electronic Journal · 4 citations

    The First Step Act, a seemingly miraculous bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, was signed into law in late 2018. The Act directed the Attorney General to develop a risk and needs assessment tool that would effectively determine who would be eligible for early release based on an algorithmic prediction of recidivism. The resulting tool—PATTERN—was released in the summer of 2019 and quickly updated in January of 2020. It was immediately put to use in an unexpected manner, helping to determine who was eligible for early release during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now the latest in a growing list of algorithmic recidivism prediction tools, tools that first came to mainstream notice with cri

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  14. Criminal Justice Reform: Examining Strategies for Reducing Mass Incarceration and Promoting Rehabilitation

    Ram Avtar Singh · 2024 · Indian Journal of Law. · 3 citations

    The pressing issue of mass incarceration and explores strategies for criminal justice reform aimed at reducing incarceration rates and promoting rehabilitation. It highlights the social, economic, and human costs of mass incarceration and discusses the need for evidence-based policies and innovative approaches to address systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration has reached unprecedented levels in many countries, including the United States, where it has disproportionately impacted communities of color and contributed to cycles of poverty, inequality, and recidivism. The abstract discusses the various factors driving mass incarceration, such as mandatory minimum

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  15. Criminal Justice Reform: Examining Strategies for Reducing Mass Incarceration and Promoting Rehabilitation

    Vikram Chatterjee · 2024 · Indian Journal of Law. · 2 citations

    The pressing issue of mass incarceration and explores strategies for criminal justice reform aimed at reducing incarceration rates and promoting rehabilitation. It highlights the social, economic, and human costs of mass incarceration and discusses the need for evidence-based policies and innovative approaches to address systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Mass incarceration has reached unprecedented levels in many countries, including the United States, where it has disproportionately impacted communities of color and contributed to cycles of poverty, inequality, and recidivism. The abstract discusses the various factors driving mass incarceration, such as mandatory minimum

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  16. The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s Recidivism Studies

    Nora V. Demleitner · 2020 · Federal Sentencing Reporter · 2 citations

    Abstract Recidivism is now the guiding principle of punishment and has become the new hallmark of criminal justice reform, as reflected in the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s recidivism project. So far, the Commission has issued three reports in 2020 alone, which outline the parameters within which “safe” criminal justice reform can proceed. Yet the overly broad definition of “recidivism” and the focus on easily measurable and static risk factors, such as prior criminal record, create a feedback loop. The Commission’s work should come with a warning label. Its recidivism studies should not be consumed on their own. Instead, they must be read in conjunction with U.S. Probation and Pretrial Servi

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  18. Evaluating restorative justice as a component of a multisystemic, evidence-based framework for reducing mass incarceration in the United States

    Agnieszka M. Nogalska, Maria Montero-Diezma, Zoe Colclough, et al. · 2026 · Contemporary Justice Review · 1 citations

    ABSTRACT Many advocates of criminal legal reform have endorsed Restorative Justice (RJ) as an alternative to retributive practices, arguing it addresses victim needs while encouraging offender accountability. Despite RJ’s growing implementation across jurisdictions, current practices often lack integration with evidence-based frameworks. Moreover, valid concerns persist regarding its effectiveness in significantly reducing recidivism, thus casting doubt on its potential role in addressing mass incarceration through systemic change. This article offers a critical review of existing RJ literature, clarifying definitions of the concept and distinguishing RJ from both conventional punitive sente

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  19. Relevant problems of humanisation of the execution of liberty deprivation under the legislation of Kazakhstan: An international comparative analysis

    R. Tatikov, K. Baltabayev, Y. Drokin · 2025 · Social and Legal Studios · 1 citations

    This researchʼs relevance lies in the nationʼs continuous initiatives to reform Kazakhstanʼs criminal justice system, reduce recidivism rates, and coordinate its penal policies with international restorative justice standards, especially as it aims to reduce dependence on incarceration and improve the efficacy of probation and alternative sentencing strategies. The purpose of the study was to identify new forms of influence on criminals in the context of restorative justice. This study utilised comparative legal analysis, doctrinal legal research, and functional legal analysis to assess the efficacy of restorative justice and alternative sentencing in Kazakhstan, Germany, Spain, and the Unit

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  20. Reforming Indonesian Criminal Justice: Integrating Recidivism Risk Assessment for Fair and Effective Sentencing

    Salma Zahra, Akmal Azizan, Sally Sophia, et al. · 2024 · JURNAL HUKUM DAN PERADILAN · 1 citations

    The major goal of this study is to develop a contextually appropriate and nuanced framework for incorporating recidivism risk indicators into sentencing recommendations in Indonesia. This research seeks to bridge the gap between global best practices and Indonesia's unique sociocultural setting by performing a deep investigation of the cultural and legal intricacies particular to Indonesia and comparing worldwide methods. The study also highlights the significance of pre-sentence investigations in obtaining a complete picture of offenders' histories and habits and so shaping sentencing choices. The study's approach includes a comprehensive review of relevant Indonesian literature, laws, and

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  21. Criminal Justice Reform: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in Reducing Recidivism

    N.R. Madhava Menon · 2024 · Indian Journal of Law. · 1 citations

    Criminal justice reform has become a prominent topic of discussion, with restorative justice emerging as a promising alternative to traditional punitive approaches. This review paper evaluates the effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism, focusing on their principles, implementation, and outcomes. By examining empirical research, case studies, and program evaluations, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of restorative justice's impact on reoffending rates and its potential as a tool for reform within the criminal justice system. The findings suggest that while restorative justice programs offer significant benefits, their effectiveness varies based on imp

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  22. Reforming Criminal Justice: Evaluating the Impact of Restorative Justice Practices on Recidivism Rates

    Aad Ameer Ghali · 2024 · Utu Journal of Legal Studies (UJLS) · 1 citations

    To enhance public safety and reduce recidivism by addressing the needs of crime victims and the community, the purpose of this study is to evaluate whether restorative justice practices reduce recidivism for individuals from juvenile and adult court systems. Specifically, the effect of the following restorative justice practices will be examined for their impact on reoffending rates: victim-offender mediation, family group conferencing, peacemaking circles, restorative circles, repair of harm circles, and indigenous circles. This study will also look at the impact of varying contexts and characteristics of restorative justice practices (e.g., timing, voluntary vs. involuntary participation,

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