Phila. City Council Forms Committee To Study How To Overhaul Criminal Justice System
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia City Council wants to overhaul the justice system. It's formed a committee to study how to do it.
Committee co-chair Curtis Jones says members will study all aspects of the criminal justice system.
"Nothing is off the table," said Councilman Jones.
Jones says the need for reform is clear in the unsustainable growth in the adult prison population.
"If you keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results, well, that's insane," said Jones.
Jones says the committee will look at alternatives to incarceration and ways to make courts more efficient, as well longer-term efforts like improving education and police-community relations.
"What is beautiful about this is my most conservative colleagues can buy into this because of the potential for cost reduction," said Jones.
Jones says the committee hopes to have recommendations by the fall.