In the News

This past November, Pettus-Davis and her team published their first report from the study and plan to follow-up with three more, reporting in real time as they gather more data. Their hope is that by issuing their findings throughout the course of the study rather than waiting until the study is complete, their research can be applied faster. It typically takes 17 years for research to be implemented into policy and practice, says Pettus-Davis, which is far too long for those facing reentry today.

The Florida Times-Union Editorial Board highlights the potential of the 5-Key Model for Reentry Project to drive criminal justice reforms in the state.

This editorial was also picked up by the Ocala StarBanner, the Gainesville Sun, and the Lakeland Ledger.

This brief describes how the Smart Decarceration Grand Challenge and the work of Dr. Pettus-Davis led to the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill recently passed by both chambers and signed by the President.

"Experts hope that the broad and diverse coalition that has grown around criminal justice reform – from progressive civil rights groups to conservative religious and business groups – stays for the long haul."

 "The State of Pennsylvania is implementing a recidivism reduction and criminal justice reform project developed by Safe Streets and Second Chances (S3C). The project is the S3C Initiative 5 Key Model for Reentry Program Demonstration Project; it is a research initiative conducted by Florida State University. The Pennsylvania effort is a partnership between S3C, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC)."

Over half of Pennsylvania’s state prisoners end up back behind bars within five years of their release, according to official data. But the state is now participating in a study on how to bring that number down.

About 80 inmates from Washington County who are being released from state prisons will be part of a four-state study aimed at reducing recidivism and helping former inmates find jobs. 

Funding from The Charles Koch Institute will allow Pennsylvanians returning home from prison in Allegheny, Fayette and Washington counties to participate in a national re-entry initiative that aims to help them succeed after incarceration.

Some inmates in Pennsylvania prisons will be part of a four-state pilot program that will track and monitor them upon their release with the goal of keeping them from ending up back behind bars.

 On July 26, Carrie Pettus-Davis, Ph.D., with the FSU College of Social Work will discuss re-entry as it applies to inmates and formerly incarcerated people in Tallahassee to help support their transition back into their community.