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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2012)
Street roots June 8, 2012 Momentum building for public safety reform in Oregon BY N AIVASH A DEAN Mandatory minimum sentencing laws such as Ballot Measure 11, which severely limit ith about eight months to go until judges’ ability to create a sentence based on our next legislative session, the specifics of a case and the impact on the Oregonians can feel the vice-grip of victim, have caused Oregon’s prison our multi-billion dollar deficit tightening. population We to more than double in the past are tired of the cuts. We are tired of crisis two decades. We are currently on a path to mode. We are really tired of having to choose add 2,000 more prison beds in the next 10 between funding our years. Every dollar spent on a prison bed prisons and educating our means one less dollar to spend somewhere children — and when K-12 else. Failure to change this trajectory now class sizes grow right will mean even more cuts to our along with prisons, we’ve underfunded education and health care made those choices. systems, and even less funding for programs Likewise, it’s senseless that are proven to prevent people from when funding shortages entering the criminal justice system in the back county law first place. enforcement into a corner The governor recognized the need to slow — counties such as Josephine County, which this unsustainable growth in our corrections has begun dismantling its sheriff’s office and budget, when he created the first is cutting its road patrol hours in half. Commission on Public Safety in July 2011. That’s why Partnership for Safety and The commission recommended a reform of Justice is happy to be able to share some the state’s sentencing laws, and endorsed a good news: This imbalance in priorities and strategy called “justice reinvestment,” which spending is being called into question. On would shift public safety resources to May 14, Oregon got two major boosts programs that research has shown can towards a vital goal: reforming our public reduce crime and save money - such as safety system to become more cost-efficient addiction treatment, re-entry programs, and and effective. The first leg-up came directly victims’ services. The reconvened from the desk of Gov. John Kitzhaber, who commission will continue to be led by reconvened a new and expanded Commission Oregon Supreme Court Justice Paul on Public Safety, a bipartisan, inter-branch DeMuniz and includes two Democratic and task force charged with figuring out ways to two Republican members of the Legislature, use Oregon’s limited public safety dollars in a a representative for the Governor’s office smart way. The second came from a national and a public member. The expanded list of source: The Pew Public Safety Performance members includes a district attorney, a trial Project, which announced that it has decided judge, and representatives from community to step in and provide crucial technical corrections, the Sheriff’s Association and the support to the commission’s efforts. Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. These are major developments in a long- Discussions around ways to rebalance overdue process. Policy makers across the Oregon’s out-of-date public safety system state are recognizing that we cannot delay a have happened in the past, but this reexamination of our public safety policies, conversation is different. The Governor’s and that the corrections budget, which now Office, along with legislative leadership, is exceeds $1.4 billion, can no longer be enthusiastically on board. A broad-based allowed to siphon funding from other coalition of education, business, and criminal fundamental parts of the public safety justice advocates who want to get Oregon’s system, such as law enforcement, drug and corrections spending back on track are also alcohol treatment, and victims’ services. As pushing for reforms. There’s also the the governor’s office acknowledges, Oregon’s economic climate, which makes reform last comprehensive review of our sentencing urgent and unavoidable. And finally, there’s policies took place back in 1989, and since the fact that Oregon’s efforts have attracted then, a lot has changed. the attention of some very influential and C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N I S T W CZ» and SAFETY JUSTICE Naivasha Dean is the membership coordinator for Partnership for Safety and fustice. P S J is a statewide, non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to making Oregon’s approach to crime and public safety more effective and more just. Meet Your Local Branch Manager: "Communities arent just streets a n d build ings. Comm unities are thrivingplaces where cultures, commerce a n d souls grow stronger together ” ~ .Mary Mary Edmeades Social Impact Banking 503.445.2155 medmeades@aibinabank.com Cr EQWL HÖUWG LENDER M em ber important national folks — the Pew Center on the States. Pew has a proven track record of success in reforming correctional spending. Texas, Kentucky, and most recently, Georgia, have all benefited from Pew’s technical assistance in their public safety reform efforts. Early last month, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a package of reforms into law that is estimated to save more than $250 million over the next five years. Pew’s selection of Oregon as a priority state is a tribute to the leadership of our policy makers, and demonstrates the faith that Pew has in our ability to make smart changes to our sentencing and corrections policies. Pew’s prowess for gathering data has already been a big help. They released polling that shows broad support among Oregonians for public safety reform — welcome news for anyone who wants to build safer, healthier communities in Oregon. The numbers show that voters would prefer to cut prison spending than cut K-12 education, health care services or higher education, or raise property or business taxes. And in what would seem to be a direct challenge to Measure 11, the polling found that 82 percent of voters support shorter sentences for prisoners if combined with a stronger parole and probation system, and that 77 percent support giving judges more say in cases that mandate a specific prison sentence. These results prove what reform advocates have long known to be true: When Oregonians are given accurate information, they choose smart public safety approaches. They want their tax dollars used wisely. The news from Pew and the governor’s office is a hopeful beginning to a long process of deliberation that will eventually equip the 2013 legislature with smart, well- researched guidelines for public safety reform. Momentum is building, and it’s time to get excited and involved for the road ahead. If you care about education, health, and safety, you care about this. Talk to your legislator about being smart on public safety, and stay informed on the commission’s progress. And meanwhile, celebrate! Congratulations are in order, Oregon. But it’s up to all of us to turn this momentum into positive change. PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL OUR VOICE IN CITY HAIL At Albina Community Bank the most ordinary financial transaction can have an extraordinary impact on our iocai community. You’re going to bank somewhere, why not let your banking make a difference in the places where you live and work? r “u r « ^ Portland www.portlandhearingvoices.net WWW com
