The skanner., August 13, 2014, Page 10, Image 10

National News
Reforms Lower Black Inmate Incarceration
T
he number of Geor-
gia’s black prison
inmates has signifi-
cantly lowered since Gov.
Nathan Deal instituted
sweeping criminal justice
reforms, a study finds.
20 percent, according to a
report in Sunday’s Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.
“What has declined
sharply has been the number
of blacks entering prison.
But what hasn’t declined
much at all, only a few per-
cent, is the number of
blacks in prison on a specif-
ic date – also called
“standing population” or
are being locked up in Geor-
gia, is a remarkable and
historic change in a state
that has long packed its pris-
ons with disproportionate
numbers of black offend-
ers.”
“Since taking office, I
have spearheaded legisla-
tion to overhaul Georgia’s
adult and juvenile criminal
justice systems because we
‘The fact that substantially fewer African
Americans are being locked up in Georgia, is a
remarkable and historic change’
Deal’s sweeping reforms
aimed at rehabilitating non-
violent
offenders
and
tackling the inflating costs
of incarceration has reduced
the black prison intake by
“stock,” explains one expert
for the Georgia Department
of Corrections and a partici-
pant in the study.
The fact that substantially
fewer African Americans
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Frederick Charles
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simply could not afford the
continually increasing costs
of incarceration,” Deal said
of his approach to criminal
justice reform. “Account-
ability court funding and
improved rules for proba-
tion detention centers have
successfully addressed the
large jail backlog and high
costs paid to counties hous-
ing state offenders. By
identifying low-risk, nonvi-
olent offenders and more
effective ways to rehabili-
tate them, we are steering
these offenders away from a
life of crime and reserving
our expensive prison beds
for the violent offenders
who pose a public safety
risk.”
Georgia’s African-Ameri-
can prison population have
dropped by 20 percent and
links this “unmistakable”
Page 10 The Portland and Seattle Skanner August 13, 2014
PHOTO CREDIT NNPA
By Roz Edward
Special to the NNPA
from the Atlanta Daily
World
Gov. Nathan Deal’s sweeping reforms aimed at rehabilitating nonviolent
offenders and tackling the inflating costs of incarceration has reduced the
black prison intake by 20 percent, according to the Atlanta Journal-
Constitution.
downward trend to the gov- chance to turn around their grams included in recently
ernor’s
boost
in lives and return to society as passed Georgia legislation
accountability courts fund- productive, taxpaying citi- are cost-effective strategies
that will allow a larger num-
zens.
ing.
“The change reflects a ber of former offenders to
“Since 2007 alone, more
than three dozen [account- new philosophy on sentenc- return to the workforce and
ability] courts have opened ing in Georgia, which led support their families, Neal
their doors across Georgia,” the nation in criminal pun- says.
‘By identifying low-risk, nonviolent offenders and
more effective ways to rehabilitate them, we
are steering these offenders away from a life
of crime’
the AJC reports. “In the first
quarter of 2014, more than
4,100
offenders
were
enrolled in the state’s 105
accountability courts, and
many of these participants
would likely be in prison
without this alternative.”
Last year, Deal gave pris-
oners who have earned
money toward college in the
form of a HOPE G-E-D
Voucher the ability to use
that money up to two years
after their release. This
opportunity grants nonvio-
lent offenders a greater
ishment as recently as 2009,
but is now bent on saving
money and changing lives,”
the AJC reports. “Hundreds
of nonviolent offenders who
might otherwise be wasting
their lives in prison are
instead receiving opportuni-
ties to get off drugs and take
responsibility for them-
selves.”
What else is on the gover-
nor’s wish list? The removal
of barriers to employment,
housing and education for
rehabilitated
offenders.
Incentives and re-entry pro-
Deal requests the assis-
tance
of
religious
organizations to join the
fight for recidivism rates
and aid in re-entry efforts.
“We are revolutionizing
Georgia’s criminal justice
system and we need a
statewide network of volun-
teers and mentors to
welcome, assist, provide
and make sure that those
who are willing to change
the directions of their lives
will find a helping hand,”
Deal said.