ST. PAUL, MN –  Today Senator Julie Rosen (R- Fairmont) was appointed as co-chair of the Council on Justice Reinvestment, as announced by the Governor’s office. 

“Serving as co-chair of the Council on Justice Reinvestment is an opportunity to dig into the best way to keep Minnesota safe, because what is happening in some counties and many cities across the state right now is clearly not working,” said Rosen. “With record crime rates and increasingly dangerous criminal activity in our state, it’s vital this council focuses on what’s best for every Minnesotan. 

“I’m particularly interested in examining the funding for community supervision, and how we can ensure taxpayer resources are reducing crime rates, lowering recidivism, and ultimately, creating safer communities. Public safety is a priority for state government, and taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely on the most successful policies,” Rosen concluded.

The Council on Justice Reinvestment is funded by a grant through the Council of State Governments Justice Center. Minnesota* is one of more than 30 states to utilize the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which in turn is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance as well as The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The goals of the JRI are: 

• Collect data that is often siloed and under-analyzed to spotlight the most pressing trends and drivers of crime, recidivism, and costs;
• Meet with a range of stakeholders and assess statutes, policies, and current practices;
• Deliver findings and recommendations to state leaders and stakeholders in clear, compelling, and actionable presentations;
• Help address implementation challenges once changes are adopted; and
• Establish an ongoing data monitoring process.

*Minnesota’s participation is based on a public announcement from the Governor’s office. As of 2 pm on December 22, 2021, theJRI website has not been updated to include Minnesota as a participant.