The Vera Institute of Justice, an independent, nonprofit organization that aims to improve justice systems through its research, recently released a new report on performance incentive funding programs. The report delineates the impact current PIF legislation has had, as well as factors policymakers need to consider when creating their own PIF program.
According to the report, successful PIF programs can significantly reduce prison population growth and costs, help ensure community corrections agencies and local jurisdictions receive the funding they need, and increase public safety. The Vera Institute views PIF programs as a promising solution to high recidivism and revocations rates, tight corrections budgets and underfunded community corrections programs.
Among the challenges of designing and implementing a PIF program are: choosing an administrative structure; selecting a funding mechanism; deciding whether to provide seed funding; selecting outcome measures; estimating savings; and engaging stakeholders. States must address these challenges in order create an effective PIF program.
PIF programs support sending fewer low-level offenders to prison, thereby cutting corrections costs for states. A share of these savings are distributed to community corrections agencies and local jurisdictions, and reinvested into evidence-based programs in the community. States that have already enacted PIF legislation include Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.