Publications

Summary: Understanding factors behind sustained criminal justice involvement is a primary focus of criminal justice research and professionals. Here we examine the relationship between offense type and new criminal convictions for offenders on parole in Utah. By analyzing 3,173 parolees released from Utah’s state prison in 2013 and 2016, we find that offenders convicted of a sex-offense have a reduced

Figure 1: Utah’s prison population: 2000-19 Research Question: When controlling for relevant factors, does offense type play a part in predicting new criminal convictions while on parole? This study examines the role of offense type on the likelihood of a new criminal conviction while on parole and examines the severity of the new criminal convictions that occurred. Data: 3,173 unique

Summary: Decades of research have demonstrated a systemic and nationwide presence of racial and ethnic disparities in the United States’ criminal justice system. The sources of these disparities have commonly been attributed to (1) differences in the type and rate of criminal behaviors, (2) unequal treatment across groups, and (3) a combination of the two. Furthermore, differential treatment by systems and structurally

Background: The Utah Sentencing Commission:  Publishes Guidelines Advises all three branches of government on sentencing policy Conducts research Reviews and makes recommendations on legislation Tracks legislative changes to sentencing statutes Tracks judicial decisions related to sentencing issues Assists the legislature in the review and study of sentencing issues Conducts training and education statewide Responds to public comment and inquiries Below

Introduction Why Restorative Justice in Education? Across the nation, school districts, their stakeholders, and policymakers have become increasingly concerned about the negative short- and long-term consequences on students of punitive and exclusionary disciplinary practices, often called zero-tolerance policies. Research consistently demonstrates that students of color disproportionately bear the burden of zero-tolerance policies, including facing suspensions, expulsions, referrals to law enforcement

Background: The 17th Annual DUI Report to the Utah Legislature was prepared in accordance with §41-6a-511 of the Utah Code. The statute requires the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to prepare an annual report of DUI related data, including the following: Data collected by the state courts to allow sentencing and enhancement decisions to be made in accordance

Background: House Bill 348, passed during the 2015 General Session, reformed procedures and practices in Utah’s criminal justice system. Policies in the reform package was premised around several key objectives, including prioritizing use of prison for serious and violent offenders; improving outcomes for offenders by strengthening supervision and expanding treatment services; and ensuring oversight and accountability. This fifth annual report

Background: The Inmate Health Care Study (IHCS) Committee was formed pursuant to the passage of H.B. 398 – Substance Use and Health Care Amendments by Representative Brad Daw and Senator Todd Weiler during the 2019 Utah Legislative Session. H.B. 398 directed the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) to convene a committee to study certain health care and other

Juvenile Justice Reform policy objectives stemmed from a review of local Utah data and national evidence-based research. Changes in policy and practice impacted the front end of the justice system within schools and the general community to the back end of the Juvenile Court and Juvenile Justice Services. This 4th annual report provides an update on reform policies that were

Background: Over the past 18 years, the forfeiture process in Utah has gone through various procedural changes along with changes to how funding is to be allocated and used. During the 2015 Utah General Legislative Session, Senate Bill 52 was passed creating additional reporting requirements for state and federal forfeitures. During the 2017 Utah General Legislative Session, Senate Bill 70