Advocacy and business groups from opposite ends of the political spectrum have joined forces in hopes of creating criminal justice reform in Tennessee.
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, the Beacon Center of Tennessee, the Tennessee Association of Goodwills, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce were among the groups forming the Tennessee Coalition for Sensible Justice.
In the group's announcement, ACLU-TN Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said reforms were necessary and urgent because the current criminal justice system "is functioning like a revolving door."
Justin Owen, president and CEO of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, said the current system hasn’t been working and has made Tennessee less safe.
"We need to ensure [inmates] are becoming tax paying productive members of society and reduce any chance that they would re-offend and create more victims and cost more for taxpayers," said Owen.
The coalition will initially pursue legislation focused on juvenile justice, sentencing reform and recidivism reduction.
