A system assessment examines all components of a local criminal justice system and how their individual policies and practices affect the jail population. Contributors to jail crowding can be found throughout the criminal justice system, therefore, a thorough assessment of policies and practices of law enforcement, jail operations, prosecution, defense bar, judiciary, pretrial services, and community corrections alternatives, as well as the way these components interact, is critical to the identification of jail crowding solutions. Working in partnership with our client Luminosity identifies solutions, known as critical success factors, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local criminal justice system operations and reduce jail crowding.

Many criminal justice systems have had a system assessment completed, however, they are not able to realize an increase in system efficiency and effectiveness or a reduction in jail crowding. The identification of jail crowding solutions is a critical part of the process and must not be overlooked. Yet the key to significant jail crowding reduction lies in the successful implementation of the critical success factors through a system re-engineering.