[From Our Partners] Achieving Racial Equity and Improving Culture in Jails Using a Community-Engaged Quality Improvement Process
Jails are the most frequently used correctional entity in the criminal legal system, and conditions of confinement have reverberating effects on incarcerated individuals, their families, and the communities in which jails are located. Inequity—racial and otherwise—characterizes these conditions, adversely affecting the culture of jails for both the people who are incarcerated and those who work there. Sustainable jail reform requires intentional, ethical engagement of jail residents and staff in partnership with system and community stakeholders. Despite this, research on conditions of confinement has historically been limited by a lack of access to the perspectives of individuals residing in jail.
To understand the factors driving inequity in jail culture, CUNY ISLG funded Justice System Partners to partner with Wellbeing & Equity Innovations (WEI) through the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) Research Consortium to conduct a mixed-methods study in an SJC site using community-based participatory research methods. This study employed a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) process to uncover policies and practices that perpetuate bias and then develop, implement, and refine interventions that reform these problem areas.
“Change Teams,” or workgroups comprised (separately) of jail residents and staff, led this effort, identifying issues and devising recommendations for review other staff, residents, and administrators who were not a part of the workgroups. WEI then suggested an implementation plan to jail leadership to promote action and sustainability of the reforms. Key findings for this project include:
Examples of Perceived Drivers of Racial Inequities
Staff and incarcerated persons experienced a pervasive sense of injustice within the jail, and members of minoritized groups felt that there was little accountability for staff’s racist behavior or misconduct. Conversely, some white staff and residents downplayed or overlooked the existence of racism
Inequity is compounded by intersectionality. Female residents, particularly female residents of color, felt their specific hygiene and wellness needs were unmet, and residents with disabilities or who spoke languages other than English felt their needs were not considered.
Power redistribution that is central to racial equity work is complicated in the context of the jail, an environment characterized by powerlessness.
Examples of Proposed Solutions for Achieving Racial Equity
Increasing Transparency and Accountability: Staff and residents highlighted transparency and accountability as crucial. They recommended appointing an external group to oversee jail operations and handle staff and resident complaints and internal affairs investigations.
Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Recognizing the ongoing need for DEI, staff suggested creating a full-time position dedicated to these efforts within the jail.
Support for Mental Health: Both staff and residents identified mental health support as critically necessary. Participants noted additional stressors for individuals of color and a comparative lack of prioritization in resource allocation. They emphasized the need for equitable mental health support for staff and programming for residents.
ABOUT THE SAFETY & JUSTICE CHALLENGE
In 2015, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation launched the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC), a multi-year initiative to reduce populations and racial disparities in American jails. To advance knowledge development grounded in a research agenda that explores, evaluates, and documents site-specific strategies to safely and effectively reduce jail populations and address racial and ethnic disparities, the Foundation engaged the Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG) at the City University of New York (CUNY) to establish and oversee an SJC Research Consortium. Consortium members are nationally renowned research, policy, and academic organizations collaborating with SJC sites to build an evidence base focused on pretrial reform efforts.