The California State Assembly passed a $108 billion dollar general fund state budget, which includes funding in the amount of $223 million for California’s judicial system and $106 million for rehabilitation programming
Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer played a key role in the increased judicial system funding.
“Courts play a vital role in our criminal justice system, but unfortunately, they have been cut by almost a billion dollars over the past few,” Member Jones-Sawyer said. “This funding was needed to increase access to justice and reopen courthouses that were closed down during the recession.”
In addition to increasing court funding, Jones-Sawyer was also instrumental in amassing $106 million for rehabilitation. These monies include $15 million for Collaborative Justice Courts, $8 million for grants to civic-based organizations currently providing innovative programming and $25 million for in-community reentry facilities focused on mental health populations.
Jones-Sawyer also serves as Co-Chair of the Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment.
“Increased rehabilitation funding will reduce recidivism, make our communities safer and provides a long-term solution to the issues surrounding overcrowding in our state prisons and county jails,” remarked Jones-Sawyer.
