May 2 marked Oregon’s third biennial United for Justice Lobby Day. County Commissioners from across the state joined partners in advocating for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) program funding.

Since 2013, JRI has been remarkably successful and enabled the state to avoid significant new general fund and capital investments to expand Oregon Department of Corrections prison capacity. JRI investments help counties plan, implement, and/or expand programs that reduce recidivism, reduce prison population, increase public safety, and hold offenders accountable.

Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and its affiliates advocated at the Capitol for current service level funding at $50 million for JRI in the 2019-2021 biennium.

The United for Justice Lobby Day included briefings and legislative meetings. The lobby day drew many advocates including Commissioners Jay Bozievich (Lane County), Melissa Cribbins (Coos County), Sonya Fischer (Clackamas County), Kathryn Harrington (Washington County),  Ken Humberston (Clackamas County), Lily Morgan, (Josephine County), Brad Winters (Lake County), and David Yamamoto (Tillamook County); Sheriffs Pat Garrett (Washington County), Curtis Landers (Lincoln County), Jason Myers (Marion County), and Craig Roberts (Clackamas County); district attorneys; formerly incarcerated people; crime survivor advocates; business leaders; and treatment providers. Advocates shared with legislators the importance of JRI to their communities.

Commissioner Bozievich said of JRI and the need for additional investment, “this is not only a good program for keeping our communities safe and healthy, but a good return on investment having saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars since being created.”

JRI funding will be addressed in the Criminal Justice Commission’s budget, Senate Bill 5506. Budget hearings began in February, and the bill is anticipated to move out of committee in May.

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate