Justice Reinvestment in Pennsylvania: Reducing Recidivism and Averting Costs by Strengthening Probation and Sentencing Practices

Justice Reinvestment in Pennsylvania: Reducing Recidivism and Averting Costs by Strengthening Probation and Sentencing Practices

After using a Justice Reinvestment approach, Pennsylvania passed legislation that will ensure that short sentences to prison are handled more efficiently and more people will receive substance use disorder treatment in lieu of incarceration, among other measures. This publication presents a summary of the Justice Reinvestment process and legislation.

Carl Reynolds | February 2021 | The Council of State Governments Justice Center

Project Credits

Writing: Carl Reynolds, CSG Justice Center

Advising: Elizabeth Lyon, Marshall Clement, CSG Justice Center

Editing: Leslie Griffin, Emily Morgan, CSG Justice Center

Public Affairs: Brenna Callahan, CSG Justice Center

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


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Senior Legal and Policy Advisor, State Initiatives
Carl Reynolds helps manage and develop projects related to courts, corrections, law enforcement, and sentencing. He works on Justice Reinvestment and other projects where expert legal and policy research is needed. Previously, Carl served as director of the Texas Office
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of Court Administration. From 1997 to 2005, he was general counsel for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), responsible for prisons, probation, and parole. He also was general counsel to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice—the governing body for TDCJ. Prior to that position, he was the executive director of the Texas Punishment Standards Commission, general counsel to the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, director of the Senate's redistricting staff, and a briefing attorney for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Carl holds a BA from the University of Cincinnati, an MA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a JD from the University of Texas School of Law. 
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