Juliette Kayyem Calls for Further Investment in Criminal Justice Reform

BOSTON – Gubernatorial candidate Juliette Kayyem calls for further investment in educational and re-entry programs in the criminal justice system. “I wholeheartedly applaud Governor Patrick’s call for a 50% reduction in recidivism over the next five years. This action is imperative to criminal justice reform, and is too critical to wait for an election. Throughout this campaign I have been pushing for serious solutions to our flawed criminal justice system, which is why it is so important that the Governor took this bold step for an issue that desperately needs to be addressed.”

Kayyem has made criminal justice reform a central focus of her campaign.  She previously called for reforming the criminal justice system, focusing on pushing the system towards a justice reinvestment model rather than a punitive model.

“As a former civil rights attorney and homeland security leader, I know that the choice is clear for the future of our state. We must increase investments in educational opportunities in prison and reintegration programs for those who have served their time. It is both the morally and the fiscally responsible option. It will make us safer.”

According to a study recently released by the RAND Corporation, for every dollar spent on inmate education, five were saved on recidivism. Between 2008 and 2014, re-entry program funding has decreased by 81%, while recidivism continues at a high rate.

“If we as a Commonwealth want to invest in early childhood education, economic growth, and a 21st century infrastructure, then we must reduce the cost of our criminal justice system. To do this, we must invest in sensible, moral, and data driven solutions that can help our citizens and our bottom line.”

Juliette Kayyem’s Criminal Justice Reform Plan Can Be Read Here