IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEB. 15, 2007

Topeka – Kansas Speaker of the House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld announced today the formation of the Joint Task Force on Kansas Corrections Reform.

“The costs associated with making Kansas a safer place to live – increasing penalties and putting criminals in prison – has skyrocketed in the last 20 years,” Speaker Neufeld (R-Ingalls) said.  “We must find ways to keep our most heinous offenders in prison while reducing the rate of reincarceration.  This joint task force will look at our state’s future need for prison bed space and reforming our re-entry program to help those being released adjust to life beyond prison.”

Speaker Neufeld named Rep. Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson) to chair the joint task force.

“Our state has a long history of being at the forefront of many innovative criminal justice policy changes,” Chairman O’Neal said.  “We will work to continue that practice.”

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts’ “Public Safety Performance Project”:

• Kansas annual spending on corrections has increased from $60 million to $264 million in the last 20 years.

• Under current programs and laws, Kansas prison population is projected to increase by 26-percent by 2016.

• 2/3 of offenders released from Kansas prisons are reincarcerated within three years.

Speaker Neufeld said the joint task force will build on the work of the Public Safety Performance Project.

“Our state’s prison needs and re-entry programs have a direct impact on the well-being of our communities.  We must develop good public policy to protect our communities and assist those wanting to break the cycle of crime,” Neufeld said.

Other members of the committee are Vice-Chairman Sen. Jay Emler (R-Lindsborg), Sen. John Vratil (R-Leawood), Sen. Greta Goodwin (D-Winfield), Rep. Lee Tafanelli (R-Ozawkie), and Rep. Jan Pauls (D-Hutchinson).

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