Case Study: Applied Research Services saves taxpayers $250 million with SIMUL8

ARS uses simulation for prison population projections and policy analysis

Applied Research Services (ARS) faced the complex challenge of helping policymakers manage prison populations and avoid costly crowding crises. With prison populations being affected by numerous dynamic factors, planners struggled to predict the impact of policy and budgetary decisions, risking either immense financial waste from over-building or significant social and legal costs from under-building. They turned to the vendor SIMUL8 and its simulation software for a solution.

Using SIMUL8, ARS built sophisticated simulation models to mimic the flow of offenders through the correctional system. This solution provided greater predictability for the short and long-term impact of policy changes. In a major achievement, SIMUL8 helped identify that a proposed new sentencing system would have cost taxpayers an additional $250 million without improving public safety, leading to its cancellation and securing those savings for taxpayers.

Applied Research Services