Research Library
Evidence That
Changes Systems
Policy briefs, outcome analyses, and technical documentation from AltReform's research team and credited external organizations. 20 curated documents.
All external research is credited to its original source. AltReform does not claim authorship of third-party work. Most referenced materials are from public-domain government sources or open-access publications.
The Racial Equity Gap in State-Level Criminal Justice Reform
AltReform Research Team
An analysis of reform initiatives across all 50 states, finding that a majority of reforms that improve aggregate incarceration rates simultaneously worsen racial disparities in sentencing and policing. Introduces the AltReform Equity Adjustment Factor.
Available at altreform.org
Evidence-Based Diversion: What Works and What Doesn't
AltReform Research Team
A systematic review of diversion programs across multiple states, distilling the design factors that predict program success.
Available at altreform.org
Recidivism Prediction at the State Level: A Machine Learning Framework
AltReform Research Team
Methodology documentation for AltReform's state-level recidivism prediction model. Features, training data, validation results, and fairness analysis.
Available at altreform.org
The AltReform Reform Scoring Methodology: Version 2.0
AltReform Research Team
Full documentation of the scoring model that powers AltReform's reform evaluations. Covers all eight outcome dimensions, the equity adjustment factor, and the expert review process.
Available at altreform.org
Criminal Justice Reform Outcomes by State: 2021 to 2024 Analysis
AltReform Research Team
A three-year comparative analysis of reform outcomes across all 50 states, tracking progress in sentencing, incarceration rates, racial equity, and reentry.
Available at altreform.org
Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2023
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Credit: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice
Annual statistical report on the number and characteristics of people held in state and federal prisons and local jails. Public domain data collected under federal mandate.
Public domain. Available at bjs.gov
Incarceration Trends in America
Vera Institute of Justice
Credit: Vera Institute of Justice
Long-term analysis of incarceration trends across the United States, including state-by-state breakdowns and demographic data.
Open access, CC BY 4.0. Available at vera.org
The Sentencing Project Annual Report 2024
The Sentencing Project
Credit: The Sentencing Project
Annual review of sentencing policy, incarceration rates, and racial disparities in the United States criminal justice system.
Open access. Available at sentencingproject.org
Justice Reinvestment Initiative Outcomes
Urban Institute
Credit: Urban Institute
Evaluation of outcomes from the Justice Reinvestment Initiative across participating states, including cost savings and recidivism data.
Open access. Available at urban.org
Does Incarceration Reduce Crime?
RAND Corporation
Credit: RAND Corporation
An evidence review examining the relationship between incarceration rates and crime, drawing on decades of criminological research.
Open access. Available at rand.org
Racial Disparities in the American Criminal Justice System
The Sentencing Project
Credit: The Sentencing Project
Comprehensive documentation of racial disparities at every stage of the criminal justice system, from arrest through sentencing and release.
Open access. Available at sentencingproject.org
What Works in Reentry
Urban Institute
Credit: Urban Institute
A synthesis of reentry program evaluations identifying effective practices for reducing recidivism and supporting successful community reintegration.
Open access. Available at urban.org
Mental Health Courts: A National Portrait
Council of State Governments Justice Center
Credit: Council of State Governments Justice Center
A national survey of mental health courts, covering program design, eligibility criteria, outcomes, and racial equity considerations.
Open access. Available at csgjusticecenter.org
Youth Justice: Research on What Works
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Credit: Annie E. Casey Foundation
A review of evidence-based interventions in youth justice, highlighting programs that reduce youth incarceration and improve long-term outcomes.
Open access. Available at aecf.org
Drug Policy Reform and Public Health Outcomes
Drug Policy Alliance
Credit: Drug Policy Alliance
Analysis of drug policy reforms and their impact on public health metrics, incarceration rates, and racial equity across multiple jurisdictions.
Open access. Available at drugpolicy.org
The Economics of Recidivism
Brennan Center for Justice
Credit: Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law
An economic analysis of recidivism costs to taxpayers, communities, and formerly incarcerated people, with policy recommendations for reducing reincarceration.
Open access. Available at brennancenter.org
Prosecutorial Accountability Report 2023
Brennan Center for Justice
Credit: Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law
Assessment of prosecutorial practices across the United States, focusing on charging decisions, racial disparities, and accountability mechanisms.
Open access. Available at brennancenter.org
First Step Act Implementation Report
The Sentencing Project and FAMM
Credit: The Sentencing Project / FAMM
Joint evaluation of First Step Act implementation, tracking sentence reductions, earned time credits, and remaining gaps in federal prison reform.
Open access. Available at sentencingproject.org and famm.org
Community-Based Corrections: Outcomes Study
RAND Corporation
Credit: RAND Corporation
Evaluation of community-based corrections programs as alternatives to incarceration, examining recidivism, cost, and public safety outcomes.
Open access (select reports). Available at rand.org
Bail Reform and Pretrial Justice
Arnold Ventures
Credit: Arnold Ventures
Research on bail reform outcomes across states that have implemented pretrial justice reforms, including safety, appearance rates, and racial equity metrics.
Open access. Available at arnoldventures.org
Topics
Data Permissions and Usage
BJS data is public domain under U.S. government copyright policy.
Vera Institute publishes under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0.
RAND reports vary by publication. Check each paper individually at rand.org.
The Sentencing Project reports are openly licensed for non-commercial use.
For papers requiring explicit permission, contact the publisher before reproducing data.
AltReform uses all external data for reference and analysis only, not reproduction.