Latest analysis and discussion of Ohio criminal justice reform ballot initiative known as Issue 1

I have blogged here and elsewhere about the interesting and intricate drug sentencing and prison reform initiative on the November 2018 ballot in Ohio.  Originally called the "Neighborhood Safety, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Amendment," the initiative now is just known within Ohio as Issue 1.  The Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC) at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law has been hosting public panels about Issue 1 under the title Ballot Insights, and has created a Resources Page for Issue 1 and a Commentary Page on Issue 1. 

The last pre-election DEPC public panel on Issue 1 is taking place tomorrow, November 1 at 10 am (register here), at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University.  The all-star panelists who will be speaking are:

• Sarah Andrews, Director, Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission
• Alex Kreit, Professor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law; visiting professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
• Carol O’Brien, Delaware County Prosecutor
• Reginald Wilkinson, President, Connecting the Dots, LLC; former Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitations and Corrections

Kyle Strickland, Senior Legal Research Associate at the Kirwan Institute will be moderating this great panel. I know Kyle will also be bringing an informed perspective to the discussion because he is a co-author of this great new report titled "Race & Criminal Justice: Ohio Issue 1 and Beyond."  Here is part of the conclusion of that report: 

Many communities are rightfully asking the question of why is the opiate epidemic the catalyst for modern criminal justice reform?  At the core of this question is the notion that broad-sweeping reform efforts are much more politically feasible when the issue also impacts communities with privileged identities — whether that be race, economic status, or party affiliation.  In the future, we should not wait for collective tipping points to address systemic inequities because policies that disproportionately harm marginalized communities harm us all.

Now that reform efforts are in motion, it is critical that a racial lens be applied to policies moving forward.  A reduction in racial disparities in the criminal justice system should not be an assumed outcome of reform.  Disparate outcomes will likely re-emerge in the health care system, community based corrections, and all other institutions without intentional effort paid to undoing our legacy of racism and discrimination.  A more equitable system will require explicit interventions to address systemic discrimination and interpersonal biases at every level.

Regardless of the outcome in November, communities must demand that those implementing Issue 1 or other criminal justice reform efforts be held accountable to reducing racial disparities and repairing the intergenerational harm caused by mass incarceration and decades of disinvestment.

Prior related posts:

• Interesting and intricate Ohio drug sentencing initiative poised to qualify for November 2018 ballot 
• Ohio gubernatorial candidate talking up criminal justice reform while advocating for state constitutional drug sentencing initiative
• Events and resources covering Ohio sentencing and prison reform ballot initiative known now as Issue 1 
• Excited to hear Shon Hopwood speak about earned prison credit as Ohio considers ballot initiative known now as Issue 1
• Despite fear-mongering opposition ads, drug sentencing and prison reform initiative polling strong in Ohio
• Should a state judge be campaigning against a state criminal justice reform initiative when talking to potential jurors?!?!?