Update: The Grossman campaign responded to BostInno’s query about how much Treasurer Grossman expects to save by freezing the construction and expansion of state and county prisons. They referred us to the 2012 MassInc. CRJ criminal justice reform report which notes, and which they cited:
[Prison] population growth would necessitate an additional $120 million annually for operations and up to $1 billion to build facilities to house new inmates…Reducing the number of inmates serving time for drug offenses to 1990 levels would save $35 million annually; a return to the number of drug offenders incarcerated in DOC facilities in 1985 would lower costs by nearly $90 million a year.
Democratic candidate for Governor of Massachusetts Steve Grossman, current treasurer of the commonwealth, announced his plans for criminal justice reform on Friday, one day after rival contender Juliette Kayyem reiterated hers. Both came hot on the heels of incumbent Governor Deval Patrick’s five year recidivism reduction plan.
Though Kayyem beat Grossman to the draw when it came to outlining plans to overhauling the prison system, there isn’t much difference between the two. Both are in favor of increasing educational awareness, bolstering prevention efforts, emphasizing rehabilitation and curtailing substance abuse.
Grossman, though, as the money-minded Treasurer of Massachusetts, is also interested in sentencing in bail reform as a way of saving taxpayer’s some money. To do this, Grossman hopes to “introduce a risk assessment tool for judges to… ensure that violent high-risk individuals likely to re-offend are held before trial” and that those arrested for lower-level offenses are released to enlist in applicable programs to expedite their rehabilitation.
Interestingly, Grossman is also calling the ceasing of any expansion and new construction on state and country prisons. By doing this he plans to use that money to invest further in educational and rehab programs such as drug awareness middle and high schools, statewide anti-drug public service announcements, and working group designed to increase access to counseling and other treatments.
BostInno reached out directly to Grossman’s campaign to find out if the treasurer has any estimates on how much he could save and subsequently reinvest by freezing prison expansion and construction but have yet to hear anything back.
What’s most interesting is the background both Grossman and Kayyem hail from, and how that differentiates their respective approaches to the criminal justice system. As treasurer and a business owner, Grossman is looking for ways to cut costs and save money in a way that his fellow candidates are not. Kayyem, a homeland security expert, is more focused on re-entry and reintegration techniques that allow for as seamless a transition back into society as possible.
Which set of ideas will prove to be more successful remains to be seen.
For more detailed information on Grossman’s criminal justice reform plan, check out his platform below. For more information on his campaign in general, check out his website here.
Steve Grossman on Safer Communities for Massachusetts Families
