Issue Position: Fix Our Prison System

Issue Position

Kansas prisons are overcrowded and understaffed. The most recent answer to this problem has been outsourcing prisoners to other states. This is not a long-term solution. Fixing our prison system starts with sentencing reform. The state should also increase education and support for diversion programs, which prioritize counseling, treatment, and behavior modification over punitive measures. Currently Kansas diverts 5% of all cases, only half of the national average. Comprehensive criminal justice reform will help keep more families together, reduce recidivism, and ultimately lower the huge cost of maintaining the current prison system-- about $415 million annually.

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