State Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato), division chair, and Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), division member and Chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division, released the following statement:
“Valuable work is happening behind the walls of each of our state’s correctional facilities. It’s important for us as lawmakers to see this work first-hand and learn about how we can best support the public servants working in these facilities.
“Our efforts alongside DOC leadership to improve safety must extend to everyone, both staff and residents alike. The vast majority of residents will reenter our communities. We have a responsibility to ensure everyone in our prisons, whether it’s at the end of their shift or the end of their sentence, are able to come home safely. Coming home safely means safe guards and safe residents create safe programming and safe communities.
“Through programming, treatment, education and other resources, we can help ensure residents are able to reintegrate with society when they leave prison, hopefully without making a return trip. With what we are learning today, we will be best able to make strategic budgeting and policy decisions to guarantee safety and other positive outcomes in our corrections system.”