Pew's Public Safety Performance Project (PSPP) works with states to advance data-driven, fiscally sound policies and practices in the criminal and juvenile justice systems that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and control corrections costs.
Why Public Safety Policy Matters
America's prison population skyrocketed over the past few decades, largely as a result of state laws and policies that placed more offenders behind bars and kept them there longer. But proven strategies are available that offer a better public safety return on taxpayer dollars. PSPP and our partners have worked directly with more than a dozen states to help them develop research-based sentencing and corrections policies and practices that slow the growth of prison costs while reducing reoffense rates, and keeping communities safer.
How We Conduct Our Work
The project supports efforts in select states that want better results from their sentencing and corrections systems. Along with partners, we diagnose the factors driving prison growth in those states and provide policy audits to identify options for reform, drawing on solid research, promising approaches, and best practices in other states. The project also helps state officials, practitioners, and others across the country share state-of-the-art knowledge and ideas through policy forums; public opinion surveys; multi-state meetings; national, regional, and state-level convenings; and online information about what works. Read our FAQ.
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The LATEST from the Project
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- Press Release
- Public Safety Performance Project
Oregonians Support Public Safety Reform
Governor Kitzhaber today called for sentencing and corrections changes to improve the effectiveness of public safety programs and reduce costs for taxpayers. more
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Kitzhaber Opens Door to Criminal Justice Reform
Gov. Kitzhaber has expanded Oregon’s Commission on Public Safety so it can take a deeper look at how to reduce costs in the Criminal Justice system, while at the same time improving public safety.
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Kitzhaber Moves Ahead With Look at Oregon's Public Safety System
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber hopes a newly revived public safety commission will lead to big changes in the state's criminal justice system. The Democrat issued an executive order Monday that brings back to life a blue ribbon panel created by his predecessor, Ted Kulongoski.
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Oregon Leaders Push Ahead on Prision, Crime Reforms
Oregon's top leaders joined forces Monday on reforms to shave prison costs and cut crime. Gov. John Kitzhaber reappointed his Oregon Commission on Public Safety, adding members and charging it with producing a reform package for the 2013 Legislature.
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Governor Calls for Criminal Justice Reforms
Governor Kitzhaber called Monday for sentencing and corrections changes to improve the effectiveness of public safety programs and reduce costs for taxpayers. more
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Louisiana Incarcerated
Louisiana has more citizens in prison than anywhere else in the world. A New Orleans Times-Picayune team of reporters led by Cindy Chang along with photographer Scott Threlkeld investigates why. Here is a video preview of this Times-Picayune special Report.
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May 7, 2012
Editorial: Legislature Takes Small, but Important Step Toward Prison Reform
Missouri legislators have passed a bill that would reduce prison populations slightly by streamlining probation and parole operations throughout the state, giving more control to county officials and reducing the number of parole violators sent to prison. more
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Prison Reform Expert Crunches Numbers to Help Pennsylvania Cut Its $1.86 Billion Inmate Costs
The architect of prison reform in Texas has crunched the numbers for Pennsylvania and will be presenting policy suggestions next month to Gov. Tom Corbett’s Justice Reinvestment Working Group.
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- Media Coverage
- Public Safety Performance Project
Gov. Deal Signs Criminal Justice System Overhaul
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Wednesday that will overhaul the state's criminal justice system to provide alternative sentences for nonviolent offenders and reduce soaring prison costs. more
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- Featured Collection
- Public Safety Performance Project
Georgia Passes Public Safety Bill
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a set of public safety reforms into law that will make communities safer and cut corrections costs.The new bill and accompanying budget measures will help reduce Georgia's prison population and prisoner return rates. more
