County officials urge passage of criminal justice reform measures

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 100 elected county officials from across the nation have signed a letter in support of two criminal justice reform bills: the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (S. 2123) and the Second Chance Reauthorization Act (S.1513/H.R. 3406).

The National Association of Counties (NACo) today sent the letter to congressional leadership, with the support of the American Jail Association, the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) and the National Association of County Human Services Administrators (NACHSA).

“Counties support measures that strengthen the safety and security of our communities while reducing unnecessary confinement and supporting successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals,” said NACo President Sallie Clark. “Given the tremendous role that counties play in our nation’s justice system, we know first-hand the importance of criminal justice reform and support bipartisan efforts to achieve these needed reforms.”  

Counties play a major role in our nation’s criminal justice system. For example, counties:

• Support 91 percent of local jails across the country
• Admit 11.4 million individuals into local jails each year, and 
• Invest $70 billion annually in criminal justice services, including $25 billion for police and sheriffs’ departments and $25 billion for correctional facilities.

“We commend congressional leaders for bipartisan efforts to improve the efficiency and equity of our nation’s criminal justice system,” said NACo Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee Chair Sally Heyman. “We stand ready to work with Congress to advance important justice reform measures like the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act and the Second Chance Reauthorization Act.  We urge both chambers to take up these measures as soon as possible.”

To view the letter and its signatories, click here.

• CriminalJustice.pdf