Rhode Island
Step 4: Measure the impact and enhance accountability.
In order to realize the goals set forth in the new bill, state officials are working with the Providence Plan to monitor the implementation of the program and policies in the new bill, and provide periodic reports to state policymakers. The Providence Plan, a nonprofit developed as a partnership between the city of Providence, the state, the academic community, and the private sector to improve outcomes in Providence and other cities and neighborhoods around the state, will be responsible for providing the legislature with ongoing analyses of trends in prison admissions for multiple jurisdictions within the state; policy briefs on relevant criminal justice issues, including recidivism among people on probation supervision; and economic forecasts for policy options under consideration.
In addition, the Providence Plan will not only prepare testimony and presentations for legislative committees and other stakeholders, but also will work with policymakers from all three branches of government to develop an annual policy agenda that includes timetables and processes to guide implementation, where necessary. Developing an agenda will allow policymakers to identify and consider the potential implications of changes in criminal justice policies.
To ensure that the organization has access to the latest data, staff will work to establish data-sharing protocols to be implemented in state agencies that collect relevant corrections and criminal justice data. The Providence Plan will then build upon its existing database system which includes indicators on housing, education, health, and public safety, to generate detailed reports at multiple levels and geographies for policymakers.