Transforming Justice Coalition 2023 Priorities: Centering Equity in Community Safety

For 2023, the Coalition’s legislative agenda consisted of three proposals that advance racial justice and community safety.

We are so grateful to the community and coalition partners for the impact that we made this year, advocating for policies to transform Oregon’s response to harm and healing by investing in communities.

SB 581 PASSED! – Thanks to all the extraordinary advocates who helped pass earned discharge.

Earned discharge will now be available to more than 4000 additional people who are on parole, probation, and post-prison supervision. For people whose crimes are eligible and who are successfully meeting their goals, the new law is an incentive-based process that allows folks to earn up to a 50% reduction in their sentence, regardless of when they were convicted.
This Oregon Capital Chronicle article shared more about why this matters.

Victims’ Healing and Gun Violence Prevention funding passed!

Healing Hurt People works to reduce future crime, trauma, arrests, and emergency room visits while increasing community safety. Along with our partners at Healing Hurt People and the Transforming Justice Coalition, we succeeded in securing nearly $4 million for victims of intentional harm like gun violence around the state!

More victims will now receive hospital crisis intervention and a range of resources that can include safety planning, housing, medical follow-up, and substance use disorder treatment – a critical investment that continues the state’s commitment to supporting survivors and their families. 
Watch this video to learn about Healing Hurt People.

Equitable Workgroups for Equitable Outcomes (HB 2650) was voted out of its committee, but it then failed to pass along with the hundreds of other bills that were affected by the 35-day walkout.

Equitable Workgroups for Equitable Outcomes would have required task forces and workgroups to include people who are most affected by policies to be a part of the decision-making process. At least half of the workgroup and task force members would have needed to be from historically underserved communities, have lived experiences, and be representatives of community-based organizations.