Scott Commends Release of New Report Highlighting Effectiveness of Justice Reinvestment Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) applauded the release of a new Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center brief analyzing data from states that have employed a Justice Reinvestment approach. The brief, "Examining the Changing Racial Composition of Three States' Prison Populations," examined data from Georgia, Connecticut, and North Carolina and found subsequent drops in prison admissions and prison populations, which were especially pronounced among minority populations.

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative provides federal grants to allow states to conduct comprehensive, data-driven analyses of their criminal justice systems and adopt smart, evidence-based policies designed to reduce corrections spending and increase public safety. Since the establishment of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative in 2010, 24 states have deployed the justice reinvestment approach to pursue policies that have slowed overall prison population growth, reduced crime and recidivism, and saved taxpayers money. As a result of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, states are projected to save more than $4.6 billion and be able to invest hundreds of millions of those savings into prevention, early intervention, and effective supervision and treatment programs to make communities safer.

"When it comes to crime policy, for far too long policymakers have chosen to ignore the evidence and have instead played politics by enacting simple minded slogans and soundbites that have done nothing to reduce crime," stated Rep. Scott. "This new brief further confirms that the smart on crime approach works, but despite the encouraging evidence that Justice Reinvestment is working, more must be done. Congress must continue to help states better manage their prison populations through investing in comprehensive, evidence-based solutions that we know work. By managing prison populations more cost-effectively, federal and state governments can better promote public safety, deterrence, and rehabilitation while saving billions of dollars and strengthening our communities."

"In addition to maintaining and enhancing investments in programs that work, Congress must come together to pass comprehensive criminal justice reform," Scott continued. "This is increasingly becoming one of the most bipartisan issues in an often deeply divided Congress. Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, are coming together to find comprehensive solutions to fix the problem and this new brief only further bolsters that cause. I look forward to working with key stakeholders and my colleagues in Congress on bipartisan, comprehensive, evidence-based solutions to reform our broken criminal justice system."

The Council of State Governments Justice Center Brief can be accessed here: https://csgjusticecenter.org/jr/publications/examining-the-changing-racial-composition-of-three-states-prison-populations/.

# # #