May 11, 2017  Juliette Daniels 

Across the nation local jurisdictions—where 40 percent of inmates are incarcerated—have recognized that increasing incarceration does not increase public safety. In fact, there are proven alternatives to incarceration that reduce recidivism and therefore do increase public safety. See Washington State Institute for Public Policy, “Evidence-Based Public Policy Options to Reduce Future Prison Construction, Criminal Justice Costs, and Crime Rates”(October 2006). There is a growing nationwide trend away from mass incarceration and toward diversion programs for the mentally ill, those struggling with substance abuse and other issues (often related to poverty). […]

Ready Juliette’s complete article on NorthwestCitizen here.