Officials at the local, state and federal levels are working to make changes to the criminal justice system and the way cases involving individuals suffering from substance addiction, mental health and other issues are handled.
At the state level, Pennsylvania’s Justice Reinvestment (JRI) Initiative working group recently compiled criminal justice policy reform recommendations expected to drive down prison and jail populations and estimated to save as much as $100 million over the next two years, according to a release issued by Potter County Commissioners this week.
Potter County native Leo Dunn is chairman of the state Board of Probation and Parole, and a member of the JRI Initiative working group.
JRI was developed during former Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration as a response to growing prisoner populations. Spending on the state’s prison system surged from $1.6 billion in 2006 to $2.5 billion a decade later. County inmate-housing costs also decreased dramatically during this time period.
“JRI Round One, which resulted in legislation in 2012, has produced smaller-than-expected cost savings, but is credited with helping to start a decline in prisoner populations after years of growth,” according to the release. Reductions were seen in state and county prisoner population numbers, and JRI members feel this new round of recommendations would further decrease populations.
A workshop was held in December for officials involved in the Data-Driven Justice initiative, initially organized by the White House and President Barack Obama’s administration, but now transitioning to be spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and a number of long-serving federal agency representatives from the Department of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.
“The county is now getting advice from experts in these fields. We’re trying to get ahead of these things as they progress,” said Potter County Commissioner Paul Heimel. “Things are happening with this all over the country. We’re picking and choosing what to attend and where to engage. We have time and resource constraints because we’re one of the smaller counties.”
Potter County is now one of 140 committed partners working with the DDJ initiative. Potter is the least-populous jurisdiction to sign on at this point.
“Valerie Jarrett (President Obama’s Senior Advisor) pointed out that early adopters are demonstrating that research-based, collaborative criminal justice reform implemented at the local level where leaders can best identify local needs and address them is a winning combination,” Heimel wrote. “Results are lower jail populations/reduced recidivism, safer communities, stronger families and a criminal justice system that is smarter, fairer and more effective.”
Heimel stated that members are also buoyed by the recent passage by Congress of the 21st Century Cures Act, which dedicates funding to battling opioid addiction and includes other measures aimed at substance abuse and mental health issues and treatment.
“The fact that Congress passed (the Act) with such lopsided margins is one of the best barometers that these reforms make sense and are garnering growing support at the federal, state and local levels,” according to Heimel.
By participating in these initiatives, Potter County can review best practices for criminal justice reform, network with experts and other involved counties and review the results of accepted research.
The county has agreed to pursue measures that more effectively address criminal cases involving people with addiction or mental illness who have an increased number of contacts with law enforcement, emergency medical personnel and other services, and individuals held pre-trial due to a financial inability to make bail.
With this in mind, Potter County officials are implementing data-driven risk assessment tools to make better informed decisions on pre-trial release and bail conditions; working to divert people committing low-level crimes primarily due to substance addiction or mental addiction to get them needed treatment and services; and creating or expanding data exchanges to identify individuals in need of services before they “slip through the cracks.”
A Smart Justice Strategic Planning Committee has been empaneled to work with the county’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board to plan for the use of county resources in response to changes in the criminal justice system. Members include Commissioners Heimel, Doug Morley and Susan Kefover, President Judge Stephen Minor, District Attorney Andy Watson, Sheriff/Jail Warden Glenn Drake, Chief Probation Officer Brian Abel, Public Defender Walter Stenhach and Chief Clerk Kathy Majot.
