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Crime, Law and Justice

Severe budget shortfalls have forced some states to consider early release programs for prisoners and alternative sentencing for the newly convicted. While prosecutors, police and others sound the alarm, sentencing reform advocates see opportunity. Pushing programs that focus on rehabilitation, community service, and victim restitution, reformers believe they can reduce recidivism and, thereby, better protect public safety. But public safety is what opponents say is at stake and warn against what they see as untested, utopian notions of a criminal justice system.  We hear a debate, including Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, from National Public Radio's 

Severe budget shortfalls have forced some states to consider early release programs for prisoners and alternative sentencing for the newly convicted. While prosecutors, police and others sound the alarm, sentencing reform advocates see opportunity. Pushing programs that focus on rehabilitation, community service, and victim restitution, reformers believe they can reduce recidivism and, thereby, better protect public safety. But public safety is what opponents say is at stake and warn against what they see as untested, utopian notions of a criminal justice system.  We hear a debate, including Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, from National Public Radio's Justice Talking series.


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