Criminal justice reform recommendations released

ATLANTA - A special council is recommending that Georgia's juvenile justice system use its out-of-home facilities for the most serious offenders and strengthen community programs to reduce recidivism.

A report with recommendations from the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform was made public Tuesday. The recommendations focus primarily on the juvenile justice system. But the report also includes some suggestions expanding on its previous recommendations for adult sentencing and corrections.

The council says its recommended policy changes will hold offenders accountable, increase public safety and reduce adult corrections and juvenile justice costs.

The juvenile justice recommendations include: keeping low-risk offenders from being placed in out-of-home facilities; require a risk and needs assessment prior to detention decisions; and reinvest a portion of the savings generated by reforms into community programs around the state.