Mandatory Minimums

New York closes youth prisons amid national sentencing debate

May 1, 2012
The symposium "Kids Behind Bars: Where’s the Justice in America’s Juvenile Justice System?" in NYC addressed the costs of incarceration and its consequences. As violent crime drops and the costs of keeping young people incarcerated remain high, it's a good time to examine youth justice policy.

John Jay Fellowship on Youth in the Justice System Takes

PSJ’s 2011 Annual Report

March 23, 2012
We've published our 2011 Annual Report and we must say: Wow! We're really proud of the breadth and depth of the work we've accomplished with the help of you, our wonderful members! Please take a few minutes to see what you've helped make happen.

PSJ 2011 Annual Report

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    • 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

    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

    Good News / Success Stories (JM-Winter 2011)

    December 2, 2011
    In this issue we report on success - the success of individuals, organizations and governments who have implemented reforms and changes that are smart on crime.

    In this issue:

    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.

    A new approach to fighting crime

    October 23, 2011
    The Medford Mail Tribune editorial board says Oregon should pay attention to Texas and spend more on substance abuse and mental health treatment, beef up parole and probation supervision and spend less on prisons — a lot less.

    'We have to get smart on crime'

    October 21, 2011
    Paul DeMuniz, Oregon's Supreme Court Chief Justice and Chair of the Governor's Commission on Public Safety, says that Oregon has "to get away from the idea of soft on crime, tough on crime...We have to get smart on crime." (Mail Tribune)

    Kitzhaber criticizes 'expensive' sentencing laws

    October 2, 2011
    At the first meeting of the Public Safety Commission, Gov. John Kitzhaber said Oregon leaders need to have "the wisdom and the courage" to look at changing prison practices, including reducing time behind bars for some crimes. (KATU)

    Peering into prisons

    September 30, 2011
    The Oregonian Ed Board voices its frustration that prisons and the sentencing policies that drive their costs have been shielded from budget cuts while education, health care and other human services are forced to absorb cut after cut. It's time to serious about sentencing and corrections reform.

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