Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
The First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) aims to reform the federal prison system and reduce recidivism. At the 2019 American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, NIJ held a panel that discussed the FSA and next steps in implementation.
Following the panel, we interviewed three of the panelists, who addressed several questions:
• What is the First Step Act and why is it important?
• What is the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Need (PATTERN) and how will the Bureau of Prisons Use it?
• Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Need
• How does PATTERN work?
• What are the main takeaways from PATTERN and your work on the FSA?
• How was your experience working on PATTERN and the FSA with NIJ?
Speakers include:
• Grant Duwe, Research Director, Minnesota Department of Corrections
• Zachary Hamilton, Associate Professor, NEED UPDATED ASSOCIATION
• Alix McLearan, Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Director, Reentry Services Division, U.S. Bureau of Prisons
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)