Iowa Department of Corrections
09/04/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Iowa partners with tech nonprofit to improve corrections outcomes and enhance public safety
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024
Media Contact: Zach Carlyle | [email protected]| (515) 415-7235
Iowa Department of Corrections and Recidiviz join forces to leverage real-time data
DES MOINES -Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) announced a public-private partnership with Recidiviz, a technology nonprofit using data to enhance public safety and improve outcomes. The partnership builds on the DOC's already impressive record of reducing recidivism three years in a row as well as legislation passed last year to streamline government operations. Iowa joins 15 other states leveraging Recidiviz's data and tools to improve the lives of people in prison and on community supervision.
"Together, we are ushering in a new era," said Reynolds. "This partnership will build on the landmark alignment legislation we passed last year to streamline government operations in Iowa. Better data will improve consistency, efficiency and staff performance across the agency and across the state."
"We're harnessing the power of data to build a fairer and safer system," said DOC Director Beth Skinner. "Through this collaboration, we're continuing our work to transform our corrections system into a rehabilitation engine, enhancing public safety by getting people the support they need to reintegrate into our communities and build meaningful lives."
Agency staff, elected officials, and communities need real-time data to improve the criminal justice system. But today, most criminal justice data is scattered, siloed and not actionable to decision-makers. Recidiviz stitches together disconnected databases to create a standardized, state-wide data layer. The nonprofit then builds technical tools that save staff time and improve agency operations. Using Recidiviz tools, leadership can view and monitor trends and better serve people in their custody and on supervision.
"Staff will have real-time data at their fingertips," said DOC Deputy Director Sally Kreamer, who leads community supervision work. "Better data on clients' needs and officer performance will ensure that there is consistency and efficiency statewide in community corrections."
Probation and parole officers will get personalized dashboards showing live analytics about their caseloads, to help them better support their clients.
The partnership is currently focused on improving outcomes for the 40,000 people on supervision - including pretrial, probation and parole. By improving these outcomes, the DOC aims to improve population management within the broader system.
Recidviz Executive Director Clementine Jacoby added, "Recidiviz is thrilled to support the forward-thinking leadership and dedicated staff at the Iowa DOC. We know the tools we've deployed in 15 other states can support Iowa and help save corrections staff time, so that they can direct energy to people most in need."
Recidiviz startedas a volunteer project at Google to uncover how technology could standardize criminal justice data and improve the system nationwide.
Recidiviz became a standalone nonprofit in 2018. Today, the team develops an open-source software platform for corrections agencies, cleaning and connecting data from existing systems to provide a complete, timely, actionable picture of what is and is not working to agency leadership and line staff.
The group launchedpublic data dashboards in both Pennsylvaniaand North Dakotathat provide real-time visibility into statistics like the prison and parole populations, reasons for incarceration, parole success rates and racial disparities. In Idaho, its line staff tools identified that 5% of the people in the state's parole program were already eligible for early release or a supervision-level downgrade; a figure like that for Iowa could identify thousands of people on the wrong level of supervision, leading to swift actions that increase efficiency and save the state money.
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About the Iowa Department of Corrections
The Iowa Department of Corrections is making significant strides to implement evidence-based practices system-wide that are proven to reduce victimization, reduce recidivism and enhance community safety. The IDOC is a nationally recognized leader in corrections for innovation and implementation of evidence-based practices. Being on the forefront of innovation and practice, the IDOC continues its commitment to be the best corrections system in the country.
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About Recidiviz
Recidiviz is powered by a team of technologists, researchers, and strategists working to make the criminal justice system fairer, smaller, and more effective. The nonprofit equips government leaders, policymakers, and impacted communities with the data they need to drive better criminal justice outcomes. The group's tools and analytics save time, resources, and help criminal justice officials make data-backed decisions.
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