With the support of the Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) launched a national sentencing reform project, “Getting Smarter about Sentencing” in 2006. As part of this effort, the NCSC is exploring the expanded use of evidence-based practices and risk assessment to help identify sentencing options that protect the public, hold offenders accountable, and reduce recidivism. In addition, the initiative builds on NCSC’s seminal work on the role and performance of sentencing commissions.

Much of our work in this area is supported by The Public Safety Performance Project of The Pew Charitable Trusts' Center on the States (PCT) and the State Justice Institute (SJI). With support from these organizations, the NCSC is partnering with the Crime and Justice Institute and the National Judicial College to provide technical assistance to targeted states, develop educational programs, conduct research, encourage cross-state learning and collaboration, and raise awareness of and support for sentencing practices reform at the national level. This Web site serves as the central location of information about these efforts as well as additional sentencing reform efforts across the states.