Criminal Justice Reform
I have never had the misfortune of being caught up in the justice system more than being pulled over during a traffic stop, an experience that research shows can look very different depending on the type of individual being pulled over. What may surprise some people, however, is that my degree of separation from people who have been truly impacted by the justice system is very small. I have both family and friends who’ve been caught up in the system or incarcerated. One of my brothers is adopted through the foster system, so he (and many of my past foster siblings) knows what it's like to move through our courts. Many of the foster children I grew up with had incarcerated parents or went through juvenile detention themselves, and it has greatly formulated my perspective on how our systems of justice affect young people and families.
Addressing the shortcomings and structural gaps of the justice system has to be one of the most important policy priorities of my lifetime. The prison-industrial complex is a moral and economic failing that will take years to undo. It has ripped apart families and fed cycles of poverty and stagnating social mobility. As we endeavor to build a better world, we must evaluate the state of civil rights in our society and our approach to repairing community harm.
Policy Priorities:
End the Death Penalty: I disagree with the death penalty for both moral and economic reasons. While none of us may ever build consensus around the moral argument, I think it's clear that the death penalty is wasteful of state dollars. It’s an expensive charge to pursue that has been shown to be an ineffective deterrent. A policy of life imprisonment without parole achieves similar justice without the waste of time and money on the part of the state.
Transition away from Private Prisons: Private Prisons create bad incentives for our justice system. When your core mission is shareholder profit, it's easy to understand how we have witnessed cut corners and inmates lack essential care.
Stop the abuse of Solitary Confinement: Nevada took action during the 2023 session to address the torture of excessive solitary confinement, but we must monitor and study the implementation of the law and continue to advocate for prisoners at-risk of harmful practices related to solitary confinement.
Address Recidivism: Our prison system does not facilitate rehabilitation. Instead, we see a cycle of repeat offenders. Considering how difficult it is to find housing and employment after incarceration, it's not shocking that 70% of those released will return to prison within 5 years. If we want to shrink our prison populations, we need to address the root problems that feed recidivism.
From the 83rd Legislative Session →AB 91: This bill, sponsored by the Judiciary Committee, would create a “second look” parole process for certain long-term incarcerated individuals who do not pose a threat to public safety.
From the 83rd Legislative Session →SB 291: This bill, sponsored by assembly member Jackson, would automatically seal the records of arrests that result in dismissed charges or acquitals.
From the 83rd Legislative Session →SB 141: This bill, sponsored by Senator Scheible, would require jails and detention facilities to develop policies ensuring respectful treatment, housing, and medical care for transgender and gender diverse prisoners. It was vetoed by Governor Lombardo, but we can and should bring it back.
