Legislation and Policy - Sentencing

Gov. John Kitzhaber, legislative leaders to launch effort to reform Oregon public safety system

February 7, 2012
State leaders hope reforms to Oregon's public safety system could spare the state from building new prisons to house 2,000 inmates. Gov. Kitzhaber and legislative leaders are about to try to cage state prison spending, an 800-pound public policy gorilla threatening to stomp through the state budget.

Oregonian Editorializes on Racial Equity and Criminal Justice

January 17, 2012
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a coalition of groups that included Partnership for Safety and Justice unveiled a legislative racial equity report card intended to heighten awareness and spur legislative action (The Oregonian).

Wrinkles in the we

Report on race coincides with MLK Day

January 15, 2012
Released to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, "Facing Race" gives a "C" grade to the Oregon Senate and a "D" to the House. But the most revealing aspects of the report may be its discussion of how Oregon is changing. (Statesman Journal)

 

Coalition grades Legislature on addressing racial disparity

January 15, 2012
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a coalition of groups that included Partnership for Safety and Justice unveiled a legislative racial equity report card intended to heighten awareness and spur legislative action (Statesman Journal).

Domestic Violence Advocate Says Public Safety System Out of Balance

December 8, 2011
More money should be spent on crime prevention and intervention, and less on locking people up. PSJ and director of Portland Women's Crisis Line agree that too much money is being spent on corrections, leaving victims services and other smart public safety solutions underfunded.

Some "Smart on Crime" Reforms that are Working

December 7, 2011
Necessitated by harsh economic times and encouraged by declines in crime rates, a number of states have made significant strides in reducing the number of people in prisons and jails and cutting spending while maintaining public safety.

Article by Denise Welch

Safe Kids, Safer States

December 7, 2011
There is good news coming in for youth justice advocates everywhere – juvenile justice is changing, and federal statistics show that many states across the nation are drastically reducing the number of youth being held in secure facilities.

Article by Naivasha Dean 

A year to look at sentencing

December 3, 2011
Saying that crime is down, money is scarce and corrections policies have evolved, the Oregonian calls for the Governor's Public Safety Commission to spend 2012 crafting a new sentencing plan for Oregon.

 

by The Oregonian Editorial Board

Long mandatory sentences not the only way to deal with crime

November 18, 2011
The Klamath Falls Herald and News Editorial Board says that "Oregon needs to find alternatives (to mandatory minimum sentences) that produce public safety at a reasonable cost" and "Are more prisons and longer sentences the only answer? We hope not." We couldn't agree more.

Falling Crime, Teeming Prisons

October 30, 2011
Senators should support a bipartisan commission to review the nation’s troubled criminal justice system and offer recommendations for reform. Reducing sentences for nonviolent offenses and ending mandatory minimum sentences could help end the devastating cycle of incarceration.

 

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