Todd Clear
Provost, Rutgers University School Of Criminal Justice
Key Findings
- Justice reinvestment looks like a partnerships between businesses and the community.
- Businesses, communities, and incarcerated individuals stand to gain if business and community partnerships are implemented.
Description
In the review, ”A Private-Sector, Incentives-Based Model for Justice Reinvestment,” Clear presents a model for justice reinvestment in the criminal justice system, which aims to reallocate funds to better support communities with high-incarceration rates. Justice reinvestment has gained popularity due to an increase in sympathy for difficulties individuals encounter when re-entering life after prison; the public acknowledgement that the United States has excessively high incarceration rates in comparison to other democracies; the understanding that incarceration harms certain low-income and minority groups; and the recognition of the high financial burden the current justice system places on the U.S. economy. Clear’s vision for justice reinvestment looks like a partnerships between businesses and the community. Here, individuals from prison would be moved back into communities to positively contribute and would be supported by businesses. Ideally, this job creation would also be available to community members not involved in the justice system. Voucher incentives would be given to businesses to participate. Businesses have better reason to benefit from this incentive system which would support jobs, innovation, as well as give the business financial gain. Clear also acknowledges the concern of the possibility and responsibility of corruption and recidivism. Clear proposes a check and balance system that is responsible for upholding the regulations. Clear notes that there is risk in this new program designed to decrease the financial burden and harm of the criminal justice system but all key players, businesses, communities, and incarcerated individuals, stand to gain if it is implemented.