August 6, 2009
Taylor Joins CSG Justice Center, Brings Bipartisan Group of Leaders Together to Discuss Direction of Cutting-Edge Criminal Justice Policies
MADISON― Senator Lena Taylor joined a group of state and local leaders from across the nation―including respected state lawmakers and gubernatorial appointees who direct large state agencies, state Supreme Court chief justices and other court officials, and law enforcement executives and prosecutors― in Burlington, Vt., this past weekend to discuss critical criminal justice policies.
Senator Taylor, who serves on the center’s board of directors, joined the group to determine the best ways to advance the latest thinking and evidence-based practices on such issues as corrections spending, recidivism among people leaving prisons and jails, services and supports for survivors of crime, the responses to children of incarcerated parents and other at-risk juveniles, and the intersection of the criminal justice and mental health systems.
“It was exciting to be part of a discussion that focuses on how we can use data-driven policies to make a true impact on communities,” said Senator Lena Taylor. “As a member of the center’s board, I am looking forward to continuing our work on complex issues in which ineffective policies and insufficient collaboration among multiple systems have undermined the integrity of the justice system, contributed to wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars, and yielded poor outcomes for public safety.”
The board of directors charted the Justice Center’s course for the coming year. The group examined options for keeping pace with the demand for its technical assistance, research, and policy guidance in such areas as prisoner reentry, Project Safe Neighborhoods, justice reinvestment, and criminal justice/mental health collaborations.
Taylor added, “I am pleased to be part of a group of national experts setting the direction for such cutting-edge work. The center’s involvement with some of the toughest criminal justice policy issues facing states ensures that it has a significant impact on improving how resources are effectively allocated to support the kinds of approaches that make a real difference in people’s lives and in the functioning of our criminal justice system.”
The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies—informed by available evidence—to increase public safety and strengthen communities.
