Correctional Reform Working Group | Massachusetts Criminal Justice Innovations

Crisis. Reform. & Repeat.

What lessons are relevant today as we navigate a new cycle of reforms in our criminal legal system?

The Correctional Reform Working Group is a diverse group of academics, practitioners, policy makers, and researchers seeking to understand and share effective strategies for reform in the criminal justice system. Our focus spans critical moments in correctional history, analyzing crises, reforms, and the cyclical nature of change within these systems.

Attica prison uprising- prison conditions

Learning from the Past

Our Mission

The Correctional Reform Working Group is dedicated to understanding the elements and factors that contribute to successful change within the criminal justice and correctional system. Our mission is to encourage progress towards a more just, equitable, and successful system by learning from leaders who have brought about positive transformations in the criminal justice and correctional system.

Events

Our live engagements bring together experts, practitioners, and policymakers to delve deep into the nuances of correctional reform.

Conversations

We foster a collaborative environment within the working group, allowing members to share insight into their diverse experiences working in the criminal justice system. These conversations cultivate a rich tapestry of perspectives that inform our collective approach to reform.

publications

Explore thought-provoking written work from our group members, offering reflection, deep analyses and research insights into the complexities of the criminal justice system.

advocacy

From speaking engagements with legislative bodies to participation in government forums, we strive to shape policies that foster a more just, equitable, and effective correctional system.

Reflections

Frank Carney, Jr., Ph.D.

Reintegration and Recidivism: Echoes from the 1970s

Bob Cadigan

Historical context

Judge Paul Chernoff

Reflections from Judge Chernoff: Racism & Parochialism

Travel back to the 1970s as we explore the story of Frank Hall, a visionary correctional reformer who navigated unprecedented challenges within the Massachusetts prison system. Amidst social unrest and a surge in prisoner rights litigation, Commissioner Frank Hall spearheaded groundbreaking reforms in reentry programs and community-based practices.