The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has partnered with Recidiviz on a new initiative to further the states’ efforts to improve record-low recidivism rates through advancements in outcome-based decision-making.
The recidivism rate measures the percentage of offenders who return to prison within three years of their release. It’s now 26.6 percent; two years ago, it was at 29.1 percent.
MDOC will utilize the open-source platform and recent advances in cloud computing technology to find new and better ways to reduce recidivism rates. The agency will gather specific, timely, and actionable insights to promote permanent improvements for those in prison. And also track the impact of changes as former offenders are released, ensuring recidivism rates remain low at no additional cost to the state.
“This partnership builds on the hard work of MDOC staff to power initiatives that provide job and skills training to incarcerated people and those under supervision, keeping them out of prisons and supporting their transition back to society,” MDOC Director Heidi Washington said in a press release.
MDOC partnered with Recidiviz to assess the current drivers that factor into reincarceration and monitor changes to enhance operational capabilities around criminal justice reform. In addition to reducing recidivism rates, this will also bolster economic improvements for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families and communities.
