Sylvia Larsen for NH Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Contact: Senator Sylvia Larsen
(603) 271-2111

CONCORD – The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony today on a bill expected to improve public safety and save money by lowering recidivism.

Senate Bill 500 grew out of recommendations endorsed by the Justice Reinvestment Leadership Team, a special committee that includes the state Attorney General, Chief Justice, leading lawmakers and corrections officials.

“The research reinforces what we know to be true: that solutions to the criminal justice problems we face cannot be addressed inside the walls of our jails and prisons alone, but instead need resources directed to our communities, with appropriate supports and supervision,” Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord), a member of the group and the bill’s lead sponsor, testified today.

The legislation implements a set of recommendations that grew out of a special review of data from the state’s prisons and jails. The review was conducted by researchers from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, who worked closely with the Justice Reinvestment Leadership Team. Funding for the three-year study, which will include a review of the efficacy of any changes, came from the Pew Center on the States and the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance with support from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

“The Justice Center has presented us with a balanced package that seeks to increase public safety by reducing the number of people who fail to complete the conditions of probation or parole and return to our prisons,” testified Senator Robert Letourneau (R-Derry), another member of the Justice Reinvestment Leadership Team.

Among other things, the data showed that the 31 percent increase in the state prison population in the past 10 years was driven primarily by probationers and parolees who were incarcerated after failing to meet the terms of their release and not because of any increase in crime.

The legislation calls for redirecting a portion of the funds currently spent for incarceration to improve supervision in the community as well as provide more community-based treatment for substance abuse and mental health. Plans also call for varied sanctions to respond quickly and firmly to parolees or probationers who violate any of the terms of their release. The legislation also would ensure that anyone leaving prison would be subject to at least nine months of post-release supervision.

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