Governor Walz Announces New Bipartisan, Data-Driven Effort Aimed at Reducing Recidivism and Improving Community Safety

Statement

Today, Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 21-34, establishing the Governor's Council on Justice Reinvestment. This Council will launch a bipartisan effort to improve community supervision outcomes and increase the likelihood of success for people on probation and supervised release (akin to parole) to improve community safety across Minnesota. The Governor's Council on Justice Reinvestment is composed of bipartisan representatives from all three branches of government, county leadership, a representative of tribes in Minnesota, and key criminal justice stakeholders from both Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

"To keep Minnesota a great place for kids to grow up, we need safe neighborhoods and communities," said Governor Walz. "For that to happen, we must deal with crime and violence in ways that are grounded in data and research, not politics. This initiative will bring together leaders from across the state -- and from both sides of the aisle -- to build data-driven policies that will make Minnesota's criminal justice system more effective, fair, and equitable."

"The Justice Reinvestment Initiative demonstrates Minnesota's commitment to following the data and investing in what works to support individuals after incarceration, build strong communities, and keep families whole. This is not only good stewardship of taxpayer dollars, but also an investment in our ability to support Minnesotans in the criminal justice system and ensure they do not fall through the cracks," said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.

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