MACo Policy Analyst Natasha Mehu presented testimony on February 26 to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee supporting SB 602, Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council. This bill establishes a Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council run through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. This council would help to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the detention system so that resources can be refocused on increasing public safety and reducing recidivism.

The written testimony states:

MACo believes that the proposed Council will be well-served by a representative from a local detention center. Public safety is the third largest component for county spending. The primary purpose of local detention centers is to hold individuals awaiting trial or those sentenced for less than 18 months. Increased incarceration and longer sentences have left local detention centers overcrowded and overburdened.

For more on MACo’s 2015 legislation, visit the Legislative Database.