Justice Reinvestment Initiative Launched

Governor Tom Corbett today encouraged members of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a newly-formed panel of judges, lawmakers, state cabinet members and other officials, as they begin studying ways to increase public safety in Pennsylvania and reduce spending on corrections.

Led by Mark Zimmer, chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, the group will meet regularly during the next several months to review data analysis, hear from local government representatives, prosecutors and public defenders, victim advocates, treatment providers and others, before crafting policy proposals.

“In order to keep Pennsylvanians safe, the Commonwealth has in the past years invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build additional prisons, expand parole supervision, and increase community-based treatment. Nevertheless, recidivism rates have not decreased significantly,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson). “This welcomed initiative will aid Pennsylvania policy-makers by identifying concrete methods to reduce correctional costs as well as proposing ways to limit once-incarcerated individuals from returning to prison."

For more information go here.

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