Yesterday, the ACLU released a new report highlighting ways to reduce state budgets and prison populations. The report entitled Smart Reform Is Possible: States Reducing Incarceration Rates and Costs While Protecting Communities details how several states with long histories of being “tough on crime” have enacted successful bipartisan reforms relying on alternatives to incarceration, underscoring that reform is not only politically and fiscally viable, but that other states, including Maine must also urgently follow suit.
These six states in the report – Texas, Mississippi, Kansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio – also experienced declines in their crime rates while these new policies were in place.
Those advocating for prisoners rights have known for a long time that these reforms make economic sense. Over and over, we have seen that the costs of using incarceration as an option of first resort far outweighs any benefit to public safety. It's time our state policies reflect this reality.
The report provides information about ongoing reform efforts and offers recommended reforms to pre-trial, sentencing, parole, and probation systems that lawmakers can enact to reduce states’ incarceration rates and corrections budgets while keeping communities safe.
Additional information about the ACLU’s work to combat mass incarceration can be found here.
Also - check out the new resource for those interested in combating long-term solitary confinement. This site includes advocacy campaign tools, state-specific resources and litigation resources.
