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Iowa's Corrections Department Slashes Recidivism with Data-Driven Insights

Data analytics is transforming corrections management in Iowa. Four interactive dashboards are helping to reduce recidivism and improve inmate outcomes.

In this image we can see there is a tool box with so many tools in it.
In this image we can see there is a tool box with so many tools in it.

Iowa's Corrections Department Slashes Recidivism with Data-Driven Insights

Iowa's Department of Corrections has embraced data analytics to bolster staff retention and provide evidence-based insights to stakeholders in the United States. The initiative, part of a broader trend in state correctional facilities, has yielded impressive results.

The department has developed four interactive dashboards using SAS to tackle key challenges in corrections management. These tools help identify candidates for release, flag inmates at risk of violence, and manage prison healthcare. Notably, Iowa's recidivism rate has plummeted to 32.8%, the lowest in ten years.

The dashboards, such as the release candidate and early intervention dashboards, enable parole boards and probation officers to make informed decisions. They can pinpoint specific operational areas within a corrections facility that require attention, supporting both inmate outcomes and public safety. This shift reflects a growing reliance on technology-driven solutions in state correctional facilities across the USA, with Pennsylvania, California, Massachusetts, and Vermont also employing dashboards to monitor their incarcerated populations.

Iowa's Department of Corrections, with the help of analytics, has achieved a significant reduction in recidivism rates. The department's use of dashboards to inform decision-making and address key challenges in corrections management mirrors a wider trend in state correctional facilities in the USA. These tools are proving invaluable in improving inmate outcomes and enhancing public safety.

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