By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt noted this week that criminal justice reform, as looked at by a commission in Kansas will have to start with focusing on changing the underlying behaviors of offenders.
"That means more focus on substance abuse treatment and intervention," Schmidt said. "A large percentage of criminal misconduct in our state, as around the country, is somehow connected to addiction to drugs, alcohol or other substances. Number two, you have to focus on mental health issues, because a similarly large percentage of criminal misconduct, has, at its root, mental health issues of the people who commit offenses."
It's also important to continue to provide structure for those who get out of prison, so that they are less likely to reoffend.
"Those really are the major things," Schmidt said. "They aren't easy. They aren't cheap. They aren't going away. I think it's good that this reform commission has reached what I think are the obvious conclusions that the way to fix the problem is to focus on the root of the problems."
It is traditional for the legislature to take a yearly look at reforming the criminal justice system. It's also important to note that this coming year will have quite a few new legislators, who may have their own ideas for what reform looks like.