The research network on a misdemeanour justice at the College of criminal justice actually announced six sites which happened to be Los Angeles California, Toledo in Ohio, Durham in North Carolina, Seattle in Washington, Prince George’s County in MD and St Louis in MO. These are the six selected to join in New York City as a part of the entire network. The core sites will adequately make use of data analytics in order to inform policy discussions and also bring about some reforms regarding the proper trends in the enforcement of low-level offences. There is also a generous $3.25 million, three-year grant from a foundation which wants to help the research network build on the success of the misdemeanour justice project in the city of New York.
Some people have stated that they are very excited to work with the core cities and also to help when it comes to informing their policy decisions on critical issues which are regarding the role of the criminal justice system in these particular cities and make it exactly like how it is in New York City. The proper research network happens to be a national alliance of seven jurisdictions that will examine the trends in the enforcement and also the disposition of the lower-level offences at a very local level. For the very first time, and even at a cross-jurisdictional level, this will take place. This particular research network will work with the research institutions, all kinds of data partners and even proper stakeholders and will aim to build a proper data infrastructure at a very local level. This particular network will also seek to inform a much smarter criminal justice policy that will enhance public safety, and also helps in increasing public trust in the entire police department. It also hopes to implement fiscally responsible policies which are particularly surrounding the behaviours which involve officer discretion. What you should know about it is that it will strive to make your life a lot better. This particular selection criteria for the six new sites actually include a commitment towards the evidence-based reforms in the local jurisdiction and also the availability of high-quality administrative data on all kinds of arrests for a couple of lower-level offences, pedestrian stops and summons as well. It will also tackle case outcome data which includes pre-trial detention of individuals, who are detained before their trials. A lot of people are detained before the trial, and they deserve proper justice. The research network will strive to help these people out.
The research network also received 39 proposals, which all indicate that there is an appetite for a lot of research in this particular arena. The local research partners also happened to be the University of California, Los Angeles, University of Toledo, North Carolina, Central University, Seattle University, University of Maryland, University of Missouri. These universities will strive to do a fantastic job at what they are supposed to do. A lot of people have stated that they want to see the work of the misdemeanour justice project expand from New York City to more jurisdictions. They are very happy that it is expanding into six other jurisdictions. They have also said that they are looking forward to replicating the New York model to these cities and also believe that the results will be smarter and better criminal justice reform.
The enforcement of low-level offences has actually had a profound impact on the criminal justice system. It can also overwhelm the courts and delay all kinds of processing of important cases. It also results in a large number of individuals being held in the detention area before their trials. We should also consider the high volume of activity that serves as the proper basis of the opinion of the public, of the entire police department and also that assessment of the legitimacy of the criminal justice system. The research network is completely committed to working with the criminal justice stakeholders in order to obtain proper and accurate data and also to provide proper analysis. It also works towards decimating the findings to key stakeholders in the entire community, renounce scholars and policymakers as well.