The Smart Justice Campaign is a broad coalition of organizations who believe that our County’s current criminal justice system relies too heavily on incarceration, which is the most expensive and least effective means to prevent criminal behavior and to create a safer community. Too many non-violent and low-level offenders are incarcerated, and this practice disproportionately impacts communities of color, low-income communities, and people with disabilities (cognitive, mental and/or physical) and their families. Incarceration of non-violent and low-risk people also unnecessarily disrupts employment, school, housing, medical care, health care coverage and other benefits, as well as family responsibilities.
It doesn't have to be that way. There are proven alternatives to incarceration for non-violent and low-level offenders that can save money, reduce crime, and keep people in their jobs and with their families, while preserving jail beds for high-risk violent offenders who actually pose a danger to our community.
Click below:
Smart Justice Statement of Support
Policy Recommendations
Who Is in the Jail
To endorse the Smart Justice Campaign
Smart Justice Campaign Coalition
ACLU/Washington · All Saints Lutheran Church · Center for Justice · Chihak & Associates - Disability Attorneys · Community Building Foundation · Community-Minded Enterprises
CORD (Coalition of Responsible Disabled) · Friends of Compassion · Greater Spokane Progress ·
KYRS/Thin Air Community Radio · League of Women Voters Spokane Area ·
NAMI Spokane - National Alliance on Mental Illness · Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane ·
Northwest Fair Housing Alliance · November Coalition ·
Odyssey World International Education Services · Opengate · Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane ·
SEIU Heathcare 775 NW · Spokane Branch Unit 1137 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People · Spokane Humanist Focus · Spokane Tribe of Indians ·
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane · University Legal Assistance,
Gonzaga Law School · Washington Community Action Network · Washington Education Association, Eastern Washington · Washington State Council of City & County Employees - Local 270 AFSCME
