Researchers Awarded MacArthur Grant For 'First-Of-Its-Kind' Study On Racial Equity At St. Louis County Jail

Creve Coeur MO

24 May, 2022

11:23 AM

Description

Press release from the St. Louis County Government: May 11, 2022 ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (May 11, 2022) - A research group has been awarded a grant from the MacArthur Foundation to develop and pilot a first of its kind transformative approach to identifying and translating racial equity interventions at the St. Louis County Justice Center. This pioneering collaboration will take place at the St. Louis County Jail with researchers from the University of Missouri St. Louis, Florida State University, and George Mason University. The MacArthur Foundation awarded the project team a $299,685 grant to conduct the work over an 18 month period. "This is an exciting project to be a part of, one that can help improve not only our Justice Center but jails across the country," said County Executive Dr. Sam Page. The study team will work with jail administrators, program staff and contractors, corrections officers, jail residents and former residents to review policies, procedures and data on the culture of the jail. Researchers hope this project will lead to a reduced jail population through effective racial equity practices and policy innovations that could be replicated across the criminal justice system. "We propose to develop and pilot a-first-of-its-kind transformative approach for identifying and translating racial equity interventions for jail settings," the study team said in its proposal to the MacArthur Foundation. "Addressing racial equity within jail settings may improve post release outcomes for residents by removing barriers to support and instilling a sense of fair treatment that helps to build confidence and hope for success after release. The target start date for the work is June 2022. This press release was produced by the St. Louis County Government. The views expressed here are the author's own.