Join the Urban Institute for a two-day conversation on correctional policy and research. This symposium will bring together a multitude of perspectives to have frank discussions about what research and data do and can look like in a prison environment, promoting safety and wellness, opportunities for change and barriers to reform, and the future of corrections policy and practice and highlighting current models of innovation in corrections.

Despite their scale and impact, prisons are among the least transparent and most understudied public institutions in the United States. In recent years, US prisons have been the subject of calls for further oversight and renewed efforts to document and put forth more humane, innovative models of confinement.

Research and data should be at the center of efforts to better understand and improve prison environments, promote transparency of poor conditions, implement and evaluate innovative reforms, and hold systems accountable for making transformative change. But as US prisons are uniquely closed systems, they too often lack the data or research capacity required for much-needed evidence-based improvement.

The Urban Institute’s Prison Research and Innovation Initiative was launched in 2019 to tackle these issues and to improve data collection, data transparency, and quality of life to make prisons more humane, safe, and rehabilitative environments for the people incarcerated and working in them. The Urban Institute is excited to bring lessons learned from this initiative to researchers, correctional practitioners, lawmakers, and advocates.
 

Thursday, March 20

8:30 AM | Check-in and breakfast

9:00 AM | Opening remarks

• Sarah Rosen Wartell, President, Urban Institute
• Juliene James, Vice President of Criminal Justice Policy, Arnold Ventures
• David Pitts, Vice President, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute

9:30 AM | Panel 1: The Future of Corrections Policy and Practice

• Nick Deml, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Corrections
• Rob Jeffreys, Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services
• Anne Precythe, President, Precythe Sturm Advisory Group
• John Wetzel, CEO, Phronema Justice Strategies
• Jesse Jannetta, Senior Policy Fellow, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute (moderator)

10:45 AM | Break

11:00 AM | Panel 2: Promoting Safety and Wellness in Prisons

• Simone Martin-Howard, Associate Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Lisa Jaegers, Associate Professor, St. Louis University
• Evelyn F. McCoy, Principal Research Associate, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute
• Nneka Jones Tapia, Managing Director of Justice Initiatives, Chicago Beyond
• Storm Ervin, Technical Assistance Manager, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute (moderator) 

12:15 PM | Lunch

1:30 PM | Lightning Talks

• Chloe Aquart, Restoring Promise Initiative Director, Vera Institute of Justice
• Kelli Canada, Associate Professor, University of Missouri
• Steve Chanenson, Professor, Villanova University
• Keramet Reiter, Professor, University of California, Irvine

3:00 PM | Break

3:15 PM | Panel 3: Lessons from PRII: Community-Engaged Methods in Prison

• Kathy Fox, Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont
• Ashley Givens, Associate Professor, University of Missouri
• Ilma Jahic, Data Analyst, Iowa Department of Management
• Jeff Lin, Director of Evaluation and Research, Judi’s House/JAG Institute
• Emalie Rell, Research Associate, University of Delaware
• Alice Galley, Policy Associate, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute (moderator)

4:30 PM | Closing remarks 

• Nancy La Vigne, Dean, School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University

4:45 PM | Networking reception

6:30 PM | Reception concludes

Friday, March 21

8:30 AM | Check-in and breakfast

9:00 AM | Opening remarks

• David Pitts, Vice President, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute
• Jeremy Travis, Senior Fellow, Justice Lab, Columbia University

9:15 AM | Panel 1: The Future of Corrections Data and Research

• Abby Crocker, Associate Professor, University of Vermont
• David Edwards, Director, Office of Research, Planning and Process Improvement, Missouri Department of Corrections
• Beth Huebner, Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
• TaLisa Carter, Associate Professor, American University
• Emily Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Colead, Victim Safety and Justice Practice Area, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute (moderator)

10:30 AM | Break

10:45 AM | Panel 2: Lessons from PRII: Opportunities and Limitations to Change

• Dayna Belfiore, Prison Research and Innovation Manager, Delaware Department of Correction
• Dana Cafourek, Missouri Prison Transformation Project Project Manager, Missouri Department of Corrections
• Isaac Dayno, Executive Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Vermont Department of Corrections
• Shannon Sliva, Associate Professor, University of Denver
• Will Engelhardt, Director, Training and Technical Assistance, Courts, Corrections, and Reentry Practice Area Lead, Justice and Safety Division, Urban Institute (moderator)

12:00 PM | Closing remarks

• Jocelyn Fontaine, Vice President, Strategic Program Development, Urban Institute

12:15 PM | Lunch

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Please email [email protected] if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.

Support for this event is provided by the Arnold Ventures. For more on Urban’s funding policies, go to https://urban.org/about/organizational-principles.