Arming Teachers and K–12 School Staff: A Snapshot of Legislative Action

Almost half of all violent crime in Kentucky is rooted in domestic violence (DV), and nearly 40 percent of people incarcerated in jails and prisons have a history of DV in their background.

Arkansas policymakers have long expressed concerns about the state’s high recidivism rate. Over the past 10 years, an estimated 72 percent of prison admissions in the state involved people who were revoked from supervision, with unmet substance use and mental health challenges playing a significant role in these failures.

Governors emphasized a wide range of criminal justice and behavioral health initiatives in this year’s state-of-the-state addresses. From Alaska to Washington, governors across the U.S. highlighted significant progress in reducing crime rates, combating the opioid crisis, and expanding mental health services. They also noted areas for improvement, some of which will be legislative priorities in 2025.

Corrections leaders balance the complex priorities of maintaining public safety, operating secure facilities, providing needed care and services to the incarcerated population, and coordinating with other agencies.