2011 Legislative Agenda

Safe Kids, Safer Communities

Currently, in most Oregon counties, when youth are arrested for adult charges they are held in adult jails until trial. Youth who commit crimes need to be held accountable with interventions that help to prevent future criminal behavior. Adult jails are not equipped to keep youth safe and youth don’t receive age-appropriate interventions when they are held in adult jails. At least 10 Oregon counties already try to keep youth out of adult jails already.  We need to expand this policy to keep our youth and our communities safe. Support House Bill 2707!

Victim Services

Most victims of crime struggle to build their psychological, physical and financial health in the aftermath of crime. Stable services to assist people during this difficult time are vital to the safety and wellbeing of Oregon's individuals, families, communities, and the entire state. To do this, we must increase the funding for the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Fund (ODSVS). ODSVS provides core public safety services to victims of crime at the time of their greatest need. Services are already under-funded; as we have seen from the recent spate of domestic violence murders, Oregonians need a safe place to turn when escaping a dangerous situation at home. Cuts to ODSVS would further limit victims' options for safety during their time of greatest need.

Corrections Spending, Justice Re-investment

The Department of Corrections spends over a billion dollars per biennium, the highest percentage of a general fund budget in the nation. 2009 marked another year of significant drops in both property and violent crime. With crime at historic lows the state facing an estimated $3.5 billion budget shortfall, Oregon needs to continue using smart approaches to public safety, like increased earned time and the delay of Measure 57. The money saved can be invested in critical services like domestic violence shelters and drug treatment programs.

Drug & Alchol Treatment Funding

As part of our HEAL Oregon campaign, we'll be working to ensure that programs and treatment funding will be maintained through the next budget cycle. We're working to move Oregon away from a system that treats addiction as a criminal justice problem and toward a system that recognizes and treats addiction as a public health problem with solutions rooted in healthcare.

Download a printable copy of our 2011 Legislative Agenda.