TJ Donovan today proposed a new state policy approach that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana as part of a larger effort to reduce recidivism in the state’s prisons.
The policy, proposal, “Get Smart: Criminal Justice that does more for Vermont,” pursues six avenues in an effort to stop what Donovan calls “the revolving door of incarceration.” Donovan hopes to eliminate barriers to unemployment for low-level offenders, enhance offender re-entry programs, decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, reduce prescription drug abuse, direct some funds to public health instead of incarceration, and provide more opportunities for expungement of criminal records.
Donovan said the policy, which is similar to the existing rapid intervention community court system in Burlington, would save taxpayer dollars while increasing public safety.
“I think what we’ve been able to demonstrate in Chittenden County is that investing in community infrastructure, investing in community resources to prevent crime, I think is a strategy most people support,” Donovan said in an interview.
The policy hinges on the idea of justice reinvestment.
“I want to be very clear – I am not asking for new state money. I think the money can come from reinvestment money from corrections, and that was the money that [Chittenden County] got, was reinvestment money from the Department of Corrections,” Donovan said.
The plan calls for increased investment in and collaboration with community resources in mental health, substance abuse and other areas. Low-level, nonviolent offenders could be directed to these community resources to address problems, freeing up law enforcement resources for more dangerous offenders, Donovan said.
Donovan’s plan also called for the decriminalization of marijuana in small amounts, but he wants to be careful with that message.
“I share a concern of the message of decriminalization of marijuana,” he said, noting that some might take that message as encouragement to use the drug.
Donovan’s goal in decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana – “When I say a small amount of marijuana, I think it’s anywhere from half an ounce to an ounce or less,” Donovan said. “Within that ballpark.” – is to prevent a criminal conviction from derailing young people’s educations.
“We can always hold people accountable, but we don’t want to disenfranchise them so we’re dealing with them time and time again,” he said. Under the current system, Donovan said students with a marijuana conviction lose their eligibility for federal student loans, which he says only makes things worse.
To reach his goal, Donovan said, he and others will have to work through some complicated issues, but he said he thinks the outcome is worth it.
“It’s saving taxpayer dollars, and it should enhance public safety as well,” Donovan said.
