Action: Challenge the Tough on Crime Alarmists
The Oregonian featured an opinion written by the Clatsop County Sheriff, the Linn County District Attorney and Crime Victims United slamming House Bill 3508, which included the phase-in of Measure 57. These “tough on crime” alarmists try to mislead readers into believing that evidence-based reforms like earned time make us less safe. We know better.
Oregon’s prison spending has been skyrocketing and ineffective, and the country’s economic crisis demanded that we do better. The legislature, with leadership of Representative Chip Shields, successfully protected our vital public services, including treatment programs and the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Fund that keep us safe during tough times.
Here is a link to the column entitled “Suspending Measure 57: Enough weakening of the justice system.” Also, Chip Shields responded to the column in an Oregonian guest opinion piece, Phasing in Measure 57: Not soft of crime, but smart on crime.
Oregon’s prison spending has been skyrocketing and ineffective, and the country’s economic crisis demanded that we do better. The legislature, with leadership of Representative Chip Shields, successfully protected our vital public services, including treatment programs and the Oregon Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Fund that keep us safe during tough times.
Here is a link to the column entitled “Suspending Measure 57: Enough weakening of the justice system.” Also, Chip Shields responded to the column in an Oregonian guest opinion piece, Phasing in Measure 57: Not soft of crime, but smart on crime.
While we wish the legislature had done more, it is imperative that we write letters to the editor to refute this attack! Tell the Oregonian that the general public wants to see resources invested smartly and that we won’t buy into these types of scare tactics when it comes to real public safety solutions.
Key Messages We Should Convey:
- The legislators did the right thing in balancing a number of difficult budgetary decisions, including funding for treatment programs, victim services and youth programming. With House Bill 3508, the Oregon legislature has demonstrated its increasing commitment to enacting policies that are evidence based and reduce recidivism while not busting the state budget. That’s smart on crime!
- The sentencing changes in House Bill 3508 were incredibly smart and backed by research from around the country. Earned time is a tested practice that provides an incentive for people to engage in rehabilitation, reduces recidivism, and saves money. Washington State recently increased earned time far more dramatically and gained huge savings and drops in recidivism. Approaches that reduce future crime are indeed smart.
- These changes do represent the will of the voters, given that they chose the treatment provided in Measure 57 over the mandatory sentences in Measure 61. The phase-in of Measure 57 saves treatment programs that would have otherwise been cut, acting on the will of the voters.
- Oregon voters chose Measure 57 over Measure 61. As a supporter of Measure 61, Crime Victims United is hardly in the best place to “represent” the will of the voters around Measure 57.
Don’t let people who didn’t even support Measure 57 speak for you – let the Oregonian know you are a voter and support the smart public safety policy chosen by the Oregon Legislature.
For those of you who haven’t written a letter to the editor before, it is not too difficult. Here are some tips for writing a good letter that is likely to get published.
Tips on a Good Letter:
For those of you who haven’t written a letter to the editor before, it is not too difficult. Here are some tips for writing a good letter that is likely to get published.
Tips on a Good Letter:
- Letters will only get published if they are short and concise. No more than 150 words.
- Keep it to one main idea.
- Be sure to cite the story you are responding to (Monday’s opinion by Bergin, Carlile and Doell was...). It is important for them to know what you are responding to.
- Introduce something personal or a key fact (I would rather see my tax dollars invested in rehabilitation proven to reduce recidivism...)
- Close with a strong statement.
- Sign your letter and be sure to include your phone number and address. Without contact info they will not publish your letter.
Email the Oregonian your letter at letters@oregonian.com.
If possible, please email us a copy of your letter to denise@safetyandjustice.org. Remember, even if your letter doesn't get published, submitting a letter lets the Oregonian know where the public stands.
Thank you so much for your help. This is really important and we appreciate your time.
If possible, please email us a copy of your letter to denise@safetyandjustice.org. Remember, even if your letter doesn't get published, submitting a letter lets the Oregonian know where the public stands.
Thank you so much for your help. This is really important and we appreciate your time.
