The University of Nevada, Reno's Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies, as a part of the College of Liberal Arts, has received a $232,296 one-year grant in collaboration with partners across Nevada to combat and reduce recidivism among inmates convicted of property crimes and drug offenses. The grant totaled approximately $1.4 million for all partners of the project and has renewal possibilities up to a total of three years at an additional $1 million per year for a potential of $3 million in total.

Veronica Dahir, director of the Grant Sawyer Center for Justice Studies and director of Survey Operations for the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluation and Statistics (School of Community Health Sciences) and principal investigator on the University's side of the project, along with Denise Schaar-Buis, a research faculty associate within the Center; Brian Lee, a graduate research assistant; Jennifer Lanterman, assistant professor of criminal justice in the College of Liberal Arts; and Aleksey Kolpakov, assistant professor of political science in the College of Liberal Arts, are the organizers of the grant through the University. The team submitted the grant proposal to the Bureau of Justice Assistance, in collaboration with the Nevada Department of Corrections, to contribute to the statewide effort.

The grant will target male offenders between the ages of 18 to 55 who have committed property or drug crimes and who have a history of substance use disorder or where substance use was involved in the crime. The offenders are also considered to have a moderate to very high risk of reoffending.

There are four areas of focus: validation of prison intake assessment and data collection methods; policy development with Corrections, Parole and Probation and outside partners; research analysis with the substance abuse program (expanded) to include wrap-around community services; and training for continuity of services and care.

"The project will allow us to look at different programs within the Department of Corrections to see which evidence-based programs work best at reducing the recidivism population," Dahir said. "Individuals coming out of prison will have these community services helping to reduce recidivism, and that is why we have the community involvement."

According to an article written by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, property crime accounted for 80 percent of all crime in Nevada in 2014, according to a statement by James Dzurenda, director of the Nevada Department of Corrections. Dzurenda further explained that it makes sense to begin focusing the program on those offenders who commit the majority of crimes in Nevada in order to have the most significant impact on public safety.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal article states that the Nevada Department of Corrections has set a goal to decrease the Nevada recidivism rate of the target population by 15 percent during two years and 50 percent throughout five years.

Other partners around Nevada include the Nevada Governor's Office; the Department of Parole and Probation; the criminal justice department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; The Ridge House, an organization that provides care for individuals in recovery from addiction; Freedom House, a sober living facility in Las Vegas; the Department of Public Safety; the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR); the Division of Health and Human Services, and other state agencies throughout Nevada.

"We are extremely excited to work on this statewide project to help Nevada successfully return citizens to the community, thereby reducing recidivism," Dahir said.