FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 6, 2019
COLUMBUS – The Alliance for Safety and Justice issued the following statement in response to the Ohio Senate’s press conference and hearing on Senate Bill 3, a drug sentencing and justice reform proposal.
“We applaud Senate President Obhof, Senators Eklund, O’Brien, Manning and Thomas, and their colleagues for continuing to advance drug sentencing and justice reforms as a priority. It is critical that Ohio make low-level drug possession a misdemeanor because we know that prison and a felony conviction are not effective at treating addiction,” said Shakyra Diaz, Ohio State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice. “We can end the cycles of addiction and crime by expanding treatment programs and removing the barriers to jobs, housing and education for people living with a past conviction. The Senate has taken another important step forward with solutions to ineffective policies, and it’s essential that all stakeholders play a constructive role in improving our laws. Ohio can no longer afford to maintain its existing approach that wastes taxpayer dollars on out-of-control prison spending and undermines the health and safety of our communities. We look forward to working with the Senate, House and others throughout the state invested in making sure strong, effective reforms become law.”
