State Department of Corrections Executive Director Rollin Cook said Utah's "tough on crime approach" has been costly and has led to mass incarceration, overcrowded prisons and unacceptable recidivism rates. Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, said his criminal justice reform bill (HB 348) will result in an "epic shift" in how the state treats offenders.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that under HB 348, drug offenses would carry a smaller penalty, probation officers could reward as well as punish, and whenever possible, the mentally ill and drug addicted would be shuttled into treatment rather than to jail. Prosecutors worry that reducing charges and sentences would be counterproductive.
All of this comes against the back-drop of a possible prison relocation and the desire to cut costs by reducing the number of inmates.
Our guests include Rep. Eric Hutchings R-Kearns; Ron Gordon, Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; Mike Haddon, Deputy Director of Administrative Services at the Utah Department of Corrections; Anna Brower, Public Policy Advocate with ACLU Utah; and Rep. Angela Romero D-Salt Lake City.
