As part of the MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge, Philadelphia has developed a comprehensive reform plan that aims to safely reduce the city’s jail population and the rate of racial, ethnic and economic disparities across the criminal justice system. Philadelphia’s plan is expected to safely reduce the jail population by a total of 34% over three years. The plan was developed through a collaborative, data-driven process and directly addresses the main drivers of Philadelphia’s jail population: the over-incarceration of pretrial defendants, a lengthy case process, and the incarceration of individuals who violate the terms of their community supervision.
In April 2016, the MacArthur Foundation announced that Philadelphia’s reform plan had been chosen to receive its $3.5 Million grant. The Foundation said Philadelphia submitted “a bold and ambitious plan that is also sound, practical, and reasonable.”
More information can be found on the MacArthur Foundation’s challenge site.
Documents
Philadelphia MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Implementation Proposal Overview
MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge Site – Philadelphia
News
From the Philadelphia Inquirer – “Philadelphia Wins $3.5M Grant to Cut Inmate Numbers”
From Newsworks/WHYY –“$3.5 Million Grant to Help Philly Cut Inmate Population, Launch Other Prison Programs”
From Metro Philadelphia – “Philly Receives $3.5M MacArthur Grant”