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Utah chief justice urges treatment investments as Justice Reinvestment Initiative reshapes courts
Summary
Chief Justice Matthew B. Durant told the Utah House that Justice Reinvestment Initiative reforms are a major change for the criminal justice system but risk worsening outcomes unless adequate substance‑abuse and mental‑health treatment is funded; he also outlined proposals on indigent defense, pretrial release, and access to legal services.
Chief Justice Matthew B. Durant told the Utah House on the floor that the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) represents “the most significant change in Utah criminal justice policy in decades,” but warned the reforms will fail without expanded treatment resources for people with substance‑use and mental‑health needs.
Durant opened by thanking colleagues and introducing the justices seated in the gallery. He said the judiciary has focused this year on four initiatives: implementing JRI, strengthening indigent defense, improving pretrial release practices and expanding access to civil legal services. On JRI, Durant said the law reduced incarceration and supervision but was conceived as a “complete package” that also depends on treatment…
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