COLUMBUS — A report finds that nearly one of every 10 bills introduced by Ohio lawmakers during the last legislative session were criminal justice-related and at odds with efforts to reduce the state’s prison population.
The American Civil Liberties Union Ohio chapter conducted the review, part of an ongoing analysis.
The Statehouse to Prison Pipeline report found that 9.4% of all introduced bills either created new crimes, enhanced existing sentences, or expanded current criminal laws.
“Mass incarceration begins at the statehouse,” said Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist for the ACLU of Ohio.
Daniels says lawmakers should refrain from passing so many bills that create new crimes or place additional penalties into state law.
Legislative leaders should encourage Republican and Democratic caucuses to refrain from advancing legislation already introduced that creates new crimes or criminal penalties.
The ACLU-Ohio has released similar analyses at the completion of legislative sessions in 2017 and 2019.