As states look for new ways to save money through data sharing and analytics, the National Governors Association says Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee will get federal grants for corrections information sharing that could lead to cost savings, reports Government Technology. The Cross Boundary Corrections Information Exchange Policy Academy will show high-level officials of participating states how they can share information between departments to reduce prisoner recidivism, save money and increase public safety.
Funded primarily through the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, the program is designed to help state officials establish the policy framework necessary so that information can be shared between departments. The governors group’s Thomas MacLellan said, “There's a lot of data that show when offenders don't have certain supports they tend to recidivate at higher rates and when they do have certain supports, they recidivate at a lower rate. If states can identify which services or needs are missing, perhaps they can fill those gaps and boost the economy by turning prisoners into functional members of society.” He said returning offenders may need job or mental health or health services, or good contact with their parole supervisors, “but to do that, people have to have the right information in their hands.”