County public safety leaders briefed legislators and their staff last month
Contributed by: Patrick Sieng, AOC Public Safety Policy Manager
July 7, 2016
Multnomah County justice reinvestment leaders met with key legislators last month to provide an update on programs that have helped prevent an additional state prison from being built. The briefing was hosted by the Multnomah Co. Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and the Citizens Crime Commission, and was chaired by newly appointed Multnomah Co. Undersheriff Mike Reese. Reese is former chief of the Portland Police Bureau.
Sen. Michael Dembrow (left) talks about justice reinvestment programs with Multnomah Co. District Attorney Rod Underhill.
“I still use the tools today that were taught to me,” said Michael Miyamura, an offender who went through the justice reinvestment program, through a video presentation. “I’m not out committing more crimes, and I’m not out using more drugs.”
The state’s Criminal Justice Commission has invested approximately $60 million over the last two biennium to fund re-entry and recidivism reduction programs in the state.
Legislators who attended included Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland; Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, D-Portland; Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland; Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland; Rep. Carla Piluso, D-Gresham; and Rep. Jeff Reardon, D-Happy Valley. Seven legislative aides also attended.
“These briefings provide an important opportunity for legislators to see programs working at the ground level,” said Patrick Sieng, public safety policy manager at AOC. “I encourage all counties to start the conversation with their legislators now, prior to the upcoming legislative session.”