Bill > HR63

This Resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission, a body that studies government matters, to investigate diversion programs, which are alternatives to traditional criminal justice proceedings that focus on rehabilitation and community-based treatment rather than punishment. The Resolution acknowledges that punitive approaches are not always effective and that the criminal justice system faces disparities, particularly for people of color and those affected by poverty, mental health issues, or substance use disorders. Diversion programs, which can occur at various stages from before police involvement to after charges are filed, aim to reduce arrests, jail placements, and recidivism (the tendency to re-offend) by offering individuals support and opportunities to address the root causes of their behavior. The Commission is tasked with making recommendations for improving current diversion programs and establishing new ones, drawing on successful models from other states, and identifying factors that help or hinder these programs, with a final report due to the House of Representatives within one year.