After months of budget discussions and strong advocacy efforts by the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and partners, including sheriffs, district attorneys, formerly incarcerated people, crime survivor advocates, business leaders, and treatment survivors, Senate Bill 5506, the Criminal Justice Commission’s (CJC) budget passed out of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety with full funding for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI).

JRI, an initiative that provides counties flexibility in administering the programs that are most efficient and cost effective for their communities, has proved successful in aiding the state in avoiding significant new general fund and capital investments to expand Oregon Department of Corrections prison capacity.

The CJC is responsible for administering a grant program to counties through the JRI to make critical investments that enable counties to plan, implement and/or expand programs that reduce recidivism, reduce prison population, increase public safety, and hold offenders accountable. $50.1 million was secured in the CJC budget for the program.

The bill now moves to the full committee for further consideration.

For questions about the JRI, or CJC budget, contact AOC Legislative Affairs Manager, Patrick Sieng.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate