“Timely justice” report shows screening cases can cut costs and jail time without sacrificing safety
Charleston, SC — Justice Innovation Lab today released the results of the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) in the United States examining prosecutorial intake practices. The findings show that early case screening for low-level offenses can significantly reduce system inefficiencies, save public funds, and minimize harm to individuals—without compromising public safety.
The RCT in Charleston County, South Carolina—the first of its kind in the US—evaluated the impact of assigning two part-time screening attorneys to assess certain misdemeanor and low-level felony cases within 30 days of arrest. This approach, which is shockingly absent in many cities and counties, allowed prosecutors to remove legally insufficient cases earlier in the process rather than letting them linger in the system for months or years.
Key Findings Include:
Cases resolved an average of 24 days faster than through standard business processes, reducing system burdens and giving arrestees and victims answers sooner.
Screened cases required fewer court hearings, saving approximately 400 hearings across 18 months.
224 cases removed from the system, impacting 221 people, and saving the courts, public defenders, and jails significant resources.
People whose cases were removed through screening spend 15 fewer days in jail.
Charleston County saved over $400,000 in jail, defense, and court costs, over 3 times the cost of the staffing changes required.
No statistically significant difference in rearrest rates, affirming that public safety was not negatively impacted.
“This is a milestone in reimagining how we deliver justice in America,” said Jared Fishman, Executive Director and Founder of Justice Innovation Lab. “We now have hard evidence that early, thoughtful intervention by experienced attorneys can lead to a justice system that is more efficient and fair, without jeopardizing public safety.”
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson noted, “Keeping people safe is our mission. Improving efficiency in analyzing low-level offenses helps my prosecutors focus more intently on violent offenders. The fact that we have been able to make these improvements without sacrificing public safety could be a game changer.”
The study was born out of years of partnership between Justice Innovation Lab and the Solicitor’s Office. Workshops with prosecutors, community members, and system stakeholders informed the design and implementation of the screening program.
“This study demonstrates that using a data-informed, people-centered approach can uncover practical solutions to the growing pressures on our justice systems,” said Fishman. “We hope this work will serve as a model for jurisdictions across the country.”
“I look forward to sharing our results with county administrators,” Wilson added, “so that we can continue studying best practices and innovations to help prosecutors prosecute the people who need prosecuting and divert or deflect the people who simply need an alternative form of accountability. Providing immediate feedback to law enforcement for quality control has been an added benefit.”
For more information or to access the full report, please visit: https://knowledgehub.justiceinnovationlab.org/reports/screening-results1-rct-charleston-sc.
About Justice Innovation Lab
Justice Innovation Lab is a nonprofit organization that helps communities develop and evaluate evidence-informed policies that improve the fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness of the criminal legal system.
For media inquiries, contact Tiana Herring at press@justiceinnovationlab.org.
About the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office serves Charleston and Berkeley Counties in South Carolina. Under the leadership of Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, the office has been a national leader in data-informed prosecutorial reform.
