Parole and Probation

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 new approach to fighting crime

October 22, 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.

Oregon's Political Landscape

September 23, 2011
Start to the sentencing reform discussions. Went back over the 2009 Safety and Savings Act. The ugly and misleading political ads that ran around Measure 57.

Article by Shannon Wight

What's Up With Earned time

April 15, 2011
PSJ's Caylor Roling lays out what is happening in the 2011 Oregon Legislative session around earned time - the policy that allows people in prison to earn time off of their prison sentences. The issue is fraught with politics, and rumors have been flying in the prisons.

by Caylor Roling

States Help Ex-Inmates Find Jobs

February 1, 2011
Faced with huge budget gaps and high unemployment, several states are addressing both issues with a surprising strategy: helping former prisoners find jobs to keep them from ending up back in prison. (New York Times)

States Help Ex-Inmates Find Jobs

By Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times

Portugal's drug policy pays off; U.S. eyes lessons

January 4, 2011
The United States, which has waged a 40-year, $1 trillion war on drugs, is looking for answers in tiny Portugal, which is reaping the benefits of what once looked like a dangerous gamble. (Associated Press)

Portugal's drug policy pays off; U.S. eyes lessons

Written by BarryHatton and Martha Mendoza, Associated Press

Making the Road by Walking It – Ten Years on the Road with PSJ

April 23, 2010
Take a look back with us at our first 10 years as an organization, starting with our founding as Western Prison Project in 1999, and refresh your memory about or learn about the road we've traveled to become the Partnership for Safety and Justice, an organization with a holistic vision for reform.

Article by Caylor Roling

‘Earned time’ for inmates a responsible way to cut costs

January 15, 2010
Senator Floyd Prozansk outlines why HB 3508 reduces costs and increases public safety. In his article, he states "earned time makes good public policy." (Register Guard)

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    • Early-release law creates anxiety

    October 4, 2009
    Acting on the new law, (HB 3508) the state Department of Corrections has determined that 4,169 inmates in Oregon's 14,000-inmate prison system are eligible for enhanced "earned time" sentence reductions. (Statesman-Journal)

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