Pushing Beyond Prisons: Governor to Sign Sweeping Justice Reform Bill
- Public Safety Performance Project
- Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- May 2, 2012
The way Georgia punishes thousands of nonviolent offenders will forever change when Gov. Nathan Deal signs landmark legislation Wednesday. It represents a first step in the governor's long-term plan to reserve prison beds for the state's most violent criminals.
Deal told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he will also sign an executive order continuing the work of a special council that studied the state's prison system and recommended sweeping changes to control unimpeded growth in prison spending. The reforms in House Bill 1176, to be signed at a ceremony at the Capitol, are projected to save taxpayers $264 million over the next five years.
"We didn't get everything we originally asked for, but we got the bulk of it," Deal said. "We think it is a significant step in the right direction. ... We do think it's the right thing to do. We don't believe it jeopardizes the safety of Georgians. In fact, we believe it enhances it."
Read the full article at ajc.com.
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