Newt GingrichYears of profound dysfunction in Washington have eroded Americans’ confidence in government. Our national leaders have lost virtually all their credibility when it comes to addressing society’s most pressing challenges. Fortunately, just as our founders intended, states are increasingly finding innovative policy solutions for many of these problems.
Can you imagine Congress ever accomplishing such a feat?
Georgia has the opportunity to apply those same conservative convictions to its juvenile justice system by adopting the recommendations of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform. After months of research last year, the bipartisan Council produced proposals that will stop wasteful government spending and help more of Georgia’s young offenders fulfill their promise to lead productive, law-abiding lives.
Georgia House and Senate legislators have overwhelmingly passed House Bill 242 that dramatically alters the juvenile justice and civil code landscape. We believe three principles are essential today and in years ahead to ensure juvenile justice reform is a success in our state.
• First, Georgia must do a better job deciding which of our youth offenders belong in secure facilities. These facilities are extraordinarily expensive — more than $90,000 per bed per year — yet nearly two-thirds of juveniles are found guilty of a new offense within three years of being discharged. By any measure, that is a disastrous return on our investment, and it is simply unacceptable, both for taxpayers and for public safety.