County leaders shared success stories about the justice reinvestment initiative grant program to the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety. Marion County Commissioner Janet Carlson, Wasco County Commissioner Steve Kramer, Josephine County Commissioner Lily Morgan, Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett, and Multnomah County Community Justice Director Scott Taylor all testified in favor of continued justice reinvestment funding.
“Because of the investment by all of you, we have been able to invest in evidence-based programs to make sure that offenders are accountable and receive the treatment they need,” said Kramer.
Grants from the program have totaled nearly $55 million over the past two budget cycles. During the current session, AOC and public safety advocates are urging legislators to allocate $52.7 million to the grant program for the next biennium. This amount equals the projected savings to the Department of Corrections for operations of a new prison. It does not include nearly $140 million that would be expected for new prison construction. The grants are used to fund reentry and recidivism reduction programs, treatment programs, and services for victims.
“As a region in Southern Oregon, we are continually looking for ways to collaborate on public safety issues,” said Morgan. “In Josephine County, the majority of our $1.1 million in JRI funding goes to a 10-bed secure drug treatment pod in the jail.”
County leaders along with other public safety advocates will convene at the capitol on May 3 for United for Justice Lobby Day to continue making the case to legislators.
Contributed by: Patrick Sieng | AOC Public Safety Policy Manager