A Significant Step toward a Smarter Criminal Justice System

PSJ has played an active role in this legislative session working with legislators and public safety stakeholders to identify policy reforms that maintain and even strengthen public safety while saving money in the process. Many of the policy reforms that PSJ advocates for are included in HB 3508, a landmark omnibus public safety bill that just passed the House and the Senate.

The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC) reported on its investigation of the status of youth in adult jails and prisons as part of a nationwide examination of sexual assault in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. The commission’s report concluded that youth (under 18) incarcerated with adults are at highest risk for sexual abuse by other inmates.

With nearly 14,000 people locked up in state prisons and another 35,000 under supervision from the Department of Corrections, criminal justice has been one of Oregon's most recession-proof industries.

The department's budget has grown at a 20 percent clip each biennium since 1995, and every household in the state pays $1,414 every two years to fund corrections.

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