2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

FRIDAY, JULY 31

3–4:30 P.M.

Justice Reinvestment Initiative 2: Understanding Pennsylvania’s Modern Corrections Reforms Room 317 Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: Pennsylvania’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative 2 (JRI2), enacted in 2019 through a series of reform-focused bills, represents one of the state’s most ambitious efforts to modernize its criminal justice system. This workshop explores how JRI2 reshapes sentencing, supervision, treatment and reentry with a balanced focus on rehabilitation, public safety and victim support. At its core, JRI2 seeks to: • Reduce recidivism by expanding access to targeted treatment, evidence-based programming and structured parole pathways. • Strengthen public safety through risk-informed sentencing and supervision practices. • Control correctional costs by decreasing unnecessary incarceration and improving program efficiency — projected to save the Commonwealth tens of millions over time. • Enhance services for victims through improved notification, compensation and advocacy resources. To achieve these goals, JRI2 introduced several key programs and policy changes, including: • State Drug Treatment Program (SDTP): A step-down model of structured drug treatment for eligible individuals, with placement determined by criminal history, institutional behavior and statutory criteria. • Boot Camp Program (BC): A military-style, intensive program for individuals within two years of their controlling minimum sentence, emphasizing discipline, physical conditioning and cognitive behavioral interventions.

WORKSHOPS

Friday, July 31 ▼ 2–4:30 p.m.

• Short Sentence Parole (SSP): A streamlined parole process ensuring individuals serving sentences of two years or less are paroled at their minimum term—excluding those convicted of violent or sexual offenses. By the end of this workshop, participants will: • Understand the purpose, structure and legislative foundation of JRI2. • Learn how individuals are classified and selected for each JRI2 program. • Explore the goals, components, and operational differences among SDTP, Boot Camp, and SSP. • Review current research on JRI2 outcomes, including recidivism trends, program effectiveness and progress toward statewide goals. This session equips participants with a clear, research-informed understanding of how JRI2 is reshaping Pennsylvania’s correctional landscape—and what that means for practitioners, communities, and the individuals they serve. Moderator: Jessica Kasaback , Program Administrator, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Speaker: James Stover , JRI2 Coordinator, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

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