Tag: Criminal Legal Systems

Columned government building

Criminal Legal System Reform Press Press Releases & Statements

PRESS RELEASE: GBPI Releases Statement on Governor’s Signing of SB 63 Expanding Mandatory Cash Bail

/ by Lauren Frazier

GEORGIA – Governor Brian Kemp has signed into law legislation that significantly broadens the scope of offenses necessitating cash bail for release from jail. The legislation, signed on Wednesday, introduces dozens of new offenses that now require cash bail, including criminal trespassing and two or more instances of failing to appear in court for a traffic citation. In response […]

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Sine Die 2024

Blog Budget and Taxes Criminal Legal System Reform Health Justice Higher Education K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Staci Fox Worker Justice

Sine Die 2024

/ by Staci Fox

Introduction Staci Fox, President and CEO When the 2024 Legislative Session began on January 8th, Georgia was sitting on $10.9 billion in undesignated, unspent public funds and a $5.4 billion Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR). The possibilities to make big investments on behalf of all Georgians were endless. Late last year, GBPI pondered Georgia’s $16 Billion […]

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Crossover Day 2024: Large Surplus Remains; Ed Legislation Tips Positively; Property Tax and Immigration Policy Reverse Progress

Blog Budget and Taxes Criminal Legal System Reform Health Justice Higher Education Hillary Dong K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Worker Justice

Crossover Day 2024: Large Surplus Remains; Ed Legislation Tips Positively; Property Tax and Immigration Policy Reverse Progress

/ by Hillary Dong

Need help understanding these bills? A bill glossary is at the bottom of this page. You can also view our bill tracker here. Yesterday was Crossover Day, the day by which a bill must pass out of its originating legislative chamber to be considered by the other chamber before the end of Georgia’s Legislative Session. […]

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Blog Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Criminal Legal System Reform David Schaefer Health Justice Higher Education Inclusive Economy for Immigrants K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Worker Justice

Crossover Day 2023: Modest Safety Net Reforms Advance; Tax Rebates and School Vouchers Create Potential Budget Holes

/ by David Schaefer

Yesterday, March 6, marked Crossover Day 2023, the day by which a bill generally must pass out of its originating legislative chamber to be considered this session by the other chamber. Several important bills passed out of their chamber and are now eligible for approval before Sine Die, the end of Georgia’s Legislative Session. Sine […]

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Regressive Revenue Perpetuates Poverty: Why Georgia’s Fines and Fees Need Immediate Reform

Criminal Legal System Reform Ray Khalfani Reports

Regressive Revenue Perpetuates Poverty: Why Georgia’s Fines and Fees Need Immediate Reform

/ by Ray Khalfani

Introduction Georgia is the number one jurisdiction in the world for percentage of population under correctional control.[1] This has less to do with protecting public safety and more to do with a state and local criminal legal system that criminalizes poverty. One mechanism by which the state of Georgia and its localities do this is […]

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Georgia Criminal Legal Systems Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2023

Budget Primer Criminal Legal System Reform

Georgia Criminal Legal Systems Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2023

/ by Ray Khalfani

Georgia’s 2023 Department of Corrections Budget Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) budget for FY 2023 is $1.28 billion. GDC oversees all aspects of the state’s prison system, including contracts carried out by private prisons. Corrections officers make up most of the department’s workforce. Several reform bills since 2012 sought to address issues related to prison […]

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Crossover Day 2022: Strong Health and Economic Legislation Cross Over, But Dangerous Tax Threat Remains

Blog Budget and Taxes Caitlin Highland Criminal Legal System Reform Health Justice Higher Education K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Worker Justice

Crossover Day 2022: Strong Health and Economic Legislation Cross Over, But Dangerous Tax Threat Remains

/ by Caitlin Highland

Yesterday, March 15, marked Crossover Day 2022, the day by which a bill generally must pass out of its legislative chamber of origin to be considered by the other chamber this session. Several important bills passed out of their chamber and are now eligible to be approved before Sine Die, the end of Georgia’s Legislative […]

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Unjust Revenue from an Imbalanced Criminal Legal System: How Georgia’s Fines and Fees Worsen Racial Inequity

Criminal Legal System Reform Ray Khalfani Reports

Unjust Revenue from an Imbalanced Criminal Legal System: How Georgia’s Fines and Fees Worsen Racial Inequity

/ by Ray Khalfani

Key Takeaways: Georgia’s poor governance of fines and fees revenue practices has allowed many economically underperforming localities to over-rely on fines and fees revenue, significantly contributing to Georgia having the highest probation rate in the country. Of the more than 430,000 Georgians who were on probation in 2018, nearly 40 percent of them were on […]

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Georgia Criminal Legal Systems Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2022

Budget Primer Criminal Legal System Reform

Georgia Criminal Legal Systems Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2022

/ by Ray Khalfani

Georgia’s 2022 Department of Corrections Budget The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) budget for FY 2022 is $1.12 billion. The department oversees all aspects of the state’s prison system, including contracts carried out by private prisons. Corrections officers make up most of the department’s workforce. The most recent reform efforts focus on more cost-efficient spending […]

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