Current Criminal Justice Policies
2019 Annual Report

Utah Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice (CCJJ)

November 2019

Why did Utah undertake the Justice Reinvestment Initiative process?

Utah’s prison population had grown 18% in the
decade prior to reform

…and was projected to grow 37% over the next 20 years

8 of top 10 offenses at prison admission were non-violent, led by:

  • drug possession only
  • theft
  • drug possession w. intent, &
  • shop lifting crimes..

And outcomes on supervision were poor, with 2/3’s of all prison admissions representing returns from probation and parole


HB348 Policy Objectives

18 individual policies to fulfill 6 broad policy objectives

  • Prioritize prison space for serious and violent offenders

  • Strengthen probation and parole supervision

  • Implement comprehensive reentry planning and treatment services

  • Reduce burdens on county jails

  • Ensure oversight and accountability

  • Expand treatment access, incentive grants to counties, and research and technology upgrades

4 years later: Performance measures show progress and challenges

4 years later: An overall reduced prison population

Prison population shift

Shift in Drug Possession Only Court filings

A reduction in the use of Drug-free-zone enhancements

A decline in the severity of Traffic Court filings

Prison projections under HB348

Prison Drivers

Number of Parole Releases delayed (due to lack of housing in the community)

Prison Admissions by type Fy2019

AP&P Agent Case-load (risk-adjusted)

Prison Drivers Takeaway

While increases in the number of prisoners is a result of many factors, it is driven by the rate that parolees are returned to prison, which may in turn, be linked to insufficient resources in the community, enforcement practices, and changes in agents work-load attributed to policies in HB348.

Number of drug possession only court filings

Salt Lake County average daily jail population
(by year): 2000-09/2019

Trends in Utah’s Arrest Rates

This 4th annual report provides several measures that show we are making progress in pursuit of HB348 policy objectives, while noting where challenges have arisen. CCJJ remains committed in continuing to evaluate and support Utah’s criminal justice policies.

Next Steps

  • Newly developed HB348 Action Plan
  • Intensified criminal justice stakeholder collaboration

A Holistic Approach

  • increased access to state and local data
  • availability of services and providers
  • continuous mental health treatment and medication
  • employment, housing, and transportation
  • expanding indigent defense
  • automatic record expungement
  • homelessness
  • court-ordered debts
  • trauma-informed care
  • community oriented perspective

Thank You!

References

Current Criminal Justice Policies in Utah, 2018 Annual Report (2018). Utah commission on criminal and juvenile justice.

HB348 Policy Shifts: Drug-Free Zone Enhancements: Fy2014:19 (2019). Utah commission on criminal and juvenile justice.

HB348 Policy Shifts: Trends in Traffic & Drug Filings: Fy2014:19 (2019). Utah commission on criminal and juvenile justice.

Justice Reinvestment Report (2014). Utah commission on criminal and juvenile justice.