The Poor Performance and High Cost of the Criminal Legal System

In four distinct American cities, graduate students at Harvard Kennedy School found that criminal legal system agencies rarely meet their own stated benchmarks of success, and at high fiscal and social cost to taxpayers. You can read more about their research at https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty-research/policy-topics/social-policy/what-cost-crime-and-punishment ------------------------ About Harvard Kennedy School: The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a graduate and professional school that brings together students, scholars, and practitioners who combine thought and action to make the world a better place. Our mission is to improve public policy and public leadership across the United States and around the world so that people can lead safer, freer, and more prosperous lives. Harvard Kennedy School teaches current and future leaders the skills they need to effectively advance the public purpose in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Our renowned faculty and trailblazing research centers pioneer bold new ideas. And as the most international school at Harvard, we convene global leaders in the Forum, host visiting experts in the classroom, and attract a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff.