| About the Maine Justice Policy Center (MJPC)
The Maine Justice Policy Center (MJPC) informs policy development and improvement of practice in Maine's criminal and juvenile justice systems. A partnership between the USM Muskie School of Public Service and the Maine Department of Corrections, MJPC collaborates with numerous community-based and governmental agencies. MJPC conducts applied research, evaluates programs and new initiatives, and provides technical assistance, consultation and organizational development services. MJPC programs include the state statistical analysis center, funded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and guided by a statewide advisory group.
MJPC strives to inform the policy and practice of criminal and juvenile justice by providing research, analysis, training and technical assistance to help governmental agencies and community-based non-profits build capacity, use data to inform decision-making and improve their performance. Center staff strives to fully understand and be able to describe the context of criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice, including the effects of politics, government, the media, public perspectives about the purpose of criminal justice - e.g. social service (needs based justice) and traditional (legal) models in applied criminal research sometimes come into conflict.
Recognizing the multiple theoretical perspectives and disciplines can provide a better understanding of the complex challenges facing criminal and juvenile justice systems, the Maine Justice Policy Center:
Applies appropriate interdisciplinary theories, frameworks and evidence-based methods to conduct applied research and organizational development in criminal justice;
Develops experiential learning opportunities for students that enable them to contribute to the generation of knowledge about criminal and juvenile justice in Maine;
Informs, convenes and engages policy makers, practitioners, non-profits, university colleagues, advocates and the public in discussion about implications of the research for policy and practice.
MJPC is devoted to a continuum of scholarly activities that emphasizes quality and improvement in the following three areas:
Generate written contributions to the knowledge base of justice in Maine, the region and the nation.
MJPC routinely analyzes data, evaluates programs, and releases reports, which are posted on this website for broad access to the public. Program staff also routinely develop and release curricula and program evaluations to MDOC, the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, the Maine Department of Public Safety, and non-profit programs serving juvenile and adult offenders and youth at risk of offending.
Provide opportunities for students from USM’s undergraduate and graduate programs to learn to apply skills in a learning environment.
MJPC offers experiential learning opportunities for applied justice research. USM undergraduate Criminology, Social Work, and graduate Public Policy & Management students have conducted applied research under the guidance of MJPC research staff. MJPC also collaborates with the University Of Maine School Of Law to offer an annual juvenile justice law & policy internship.
Create opportunities for discussion and “deliberative civic engagement” about justice policy and practice issues in Maine.
MJPC often plays a convener role to help partners and stakeholders develop and pursue their own research agendas. Examples of this practice include:
MJPC staff initiates research by engaging with multiple stakeholders to generate new data sources and relevant information – e.g. a new comprehensive baseline portrait of criminal victimization in Maine.
MJPC staff routinely analyzes disparate sources of justice data to help address or answer policy questions of stakeholders.
As policy and practice solutions emerge from correctional research and other research sources, MJPC will use various methods to encourage and facilitate opportunities for Maine’s justice stakeholders and citizens to come together to discuss and address critical criminal and juvenile justice issues.
In 1972, the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) began providing limited funds to states to operate state statistical analysis centers. The purpose of each state SAC is to enhance the capacity to address criminal justice issues through applied research and data to estimate the implications and impacts of legislative and policy changes. The quantitative focus of the SAC program reflects the current government emphasis on quantifiable data for criminal justice system improvement.
In 1999, pursuant to an Executive Order issued by Maine’s Governor, the Maine Department of Corrections transferred the SAC to the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service. SAC activities are guided by an advisory group comprised of policy-level representatives of the Maine Department of Public Safety, Maine Department of Corrections, Maine Administrative Office of the Courts, and Maine Criminal Justice Commission.
SAC themes of focus change every year. In 2008-2009, the Maine SAC has submitted a proposal to work on developing a new Maine Crime & Justice Data Book.
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