Bishara Addison, Towards Employment
“Senate Bill 3 has the potential to have a significant impact on those Towards Employment serves. Of our 400 reentry graduates last year that we placed in jobs, nearly a third had drug related offenses, mostly drug possession. According to a report from Policy Matters OH, there are 524 distinct laws – called collateral sanctions – bar Ohioans from employment in a wide array of jobs based on a drug conviction. Of those, 56 percent apply only to felonies. Their research shows that jobs affected by collateral sanctions pay $4,700 more on average, and are growing at twice the rate of other jobs.”
Robert Alt, The Buckeye Institute
“The policies in Senate Bill 3 will ensure Ohio remains a national leader in commonsense criminal justice reform, which keeps our neighborhoods safe and ensures nonviolent offenders are not overrunning our state’s prisons and courts.”
Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks
“FreedomWorks encourages all members of the Ohio state legislature to support SB 3 when it is considered and urge Gov. Mike DeWine to sign this common-sense, smart-on-crime bill into law.”
“We believe Senate Bill 3 is a responsible, bipartisan, and necessary approach to criminal justice reform in Ohio. We recognize the purpose of this legislation as reforming Ohio's drug sentencing laws to protect Ohio citizens while enhancing rehabilitation opportunities for non-violent, addicted offenders.”
Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial Board
“Since the beginning of 2019, 6,238 Ohioans have lost their lives to drug overdoses. If the threat of death isn’t a high enough penalty to change a drug user’s behavior, then why would anyone believe a felony charge to be a stronger deterrent? That’s because it’s not, as the rising number of overdose deaths and crowded jails attest. (Some 2,000 inmates are in our prison system now for drug possession offenses.) To stem this tide of addiction, law enforcement, judges and legislators have to think and act differently, and that starts with passing Senate Bill 3.”
“The bill provides non-violent offenders with the ability to rehabilitate themselves while at the same time enhancing the likelihood of their successful reintroduction into society by reclassifying certain non-violent, low-level felonies to unclassified misdemeanors. These releases will also address the fiscal burden that mass incarceration and overcrowded jails that costs the taxpayers of the State of Ohio millions of dollars every year. Senate Bill 3 creates a better use for those funds such as drug treatment for those individuals who need it the most.”
Columbus Dispatch Editorial Board
“An advantage of the approach in SB3, as touted by Klein when the bill was introduced, is that drug users who need to overcome addictions can get help without being saddled with a felony conviction, a penalty of long-term consequences that can prohibit efforts to attain or maintain sustainable employment.”
John Cutler and Shakyra Diaz, Alliance for Safety and Justice
“The passage of this critical, priority legislation without diminishment or delay is made especially urgent by the current health crisis in Ohio’s correctional facilities. The legislature and a full range of stakeholders from across health and public safety systems have invested significant time and attention on crafting a bill that will allow for a safer, fairer, and more responsive approach to addiction in Ohio. This is now a moment for Ohio legislators to continue the state’s tradition of leadership on criminal justice issues and pass Senate Bill 3.”
Gary Daniels, ACLU of Ohio
“SB 3 is recognition something remains fundamentally wrong in Ohio. That is, we continue to lock people in cages because they struggle with drug addiction and substance abuse. After nearly 40+ years of trying to arrest, convict and imprison our way out of our drug problems, there is widespread and ever-growing recognition this not only does not work it also makes these problems far worse.”
Micah Derry, Americans for Prosperity—Ohio
“SB 3 balances the need to expand alternatives to incarceration, such as treatment, for those struggling with addiction, while still providing law enforcement, judges, and prosecutors the tools to increase punishments for habitual violators and those possessing drugs like fentanyl.”
Franklin County Board of Commissioners
“The reclassification of low-level, nonviolent drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, as proposed in Senate Bill 3, is another powerful and impactful step forward by the State of Ohio to align criminal justice policy with evidence-based, smart justice best practices. Any time we can divert someone with a substance abuse challenge from a felony conviction, we avoid costly incarceration and ongoing, even sometimes lifelong, collateral sanctions for the individual. Conversely, every time we fail to provide treatment and other options, we miss an opportunity to prevent crime, avoid creating another crime victim, and in the case of a parent, prevent an adverse childhood experience for children with justice- involved parents.”
Brenda Glass, Brenda Glass Trauma Center
“Crime victims often experience mental health challenges, substance abuse, housing instability, disruption in employment, re-victimization and contact with the justice system. Many turn to substances to cope with trauma often because support was not available or offered to them. Crime victims need support. Left without support many will attempt to numb their pain which can lead to addiction and felony convictions when all they needed was help. Felony convictions associated with addiction are often rooted in a prior harmful experience, responding with felonies only adds barriers and humiliation to their lives. Old criminal convictions are used to box people in; for victims of crime who also have prior convictions, they are used to deny support. I support SB 3 and urge you to pass it into law because I know that people who are battling addiction have often been left with little support before they ever turned to drugs.”
Holly Harris, Justice Action Network
“Over the past decade, the ten states that have most significantly reduced their incarceration rates through the reforms at issue today have shown an average drop in their crime rates of 19%. Conversely, the ten states that have most significantly increased their incarceration rates by continuing to employ unduly harsh penalties have shown an average drop in their crime rates of just 11%. The bottom line is this: when you throw people convicted of low-level, non-violent offenses behind bars for long stretches with people who are true threats to others, you churn out better criminals, not better citizens. And states that send sick people to treatment, and reserve incarceration for the dangerous among us see better outcomes. That’s precisely what this legislation seeks to do.”
Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Cleveland Browns
SB 3 also takes major steps forward in addressing Ohio’s opioid epidemic, another cause the Cleveland Browns care deeply about. Ohioans have suffered devastating losses to opioid addiction, a crisis which has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly support the discretion the bill gives judges in determining treatment options for certain low-level, non-violent offenders as opposed to sentencing of prison time. The importance to our society of treating addicted individuals so they can successfully turn their lives around and avoid the cycle of incarceration cannot be understated. SB 3 directly addresses the importance of treatment in lieu of conviction and expands support for these life-saving services.
AJ Hawk, Ohio State University, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Hawks
“Here in Ohio, we have tried to punish our way out of the opioid crisis, and we have failed. We have seen too many overdose deaths for too many years, and created generations of trauma for children whose parents have become addicted, been incarcerated, or have died. We have learned the hard way that throwing sick people behind bars doesn’t create healthy citizens, but leads to deeper addiction and more crime. It’s time for a change, and we know what we need to do.
Other states have enacted smart criminal justice reforms, just like SB 3, and seen positive results: reducing incarceration, addressing racial disparities, and improving public safety at the same time. That’s what SB 3 will do, and that’s why I urge you to pass this legislation.”
Mark Holden, Koch Industries
“We believe SB 3 can effectively address the ineffective and counterproductive trend of incarcerating people with addiction issues. The reclassification of low-level drug possession as a misdemeanor is an important component to better address the addiction crisis. It would help stem the revolving door of people with addictions cycling in and out of state prisons.”
“My name is Rick Hughes, and urge you to pass SB 3 in honor of my son Garrett who died from an opioid overdose. The sad truth is my son’s death is a crushing burden on myself and my family, but we are not alone in Ohio. We continue to lose 14 people a day on average to overdose deaths in our state. Here is what haunts me, keeps me awake at night, comes to me at unexpected moments throughout each and every day as random triggers remind me of the son I loved, of the son I lost. I believe Garrett would be alive today if he would have been treated for drug addiction instead of prosecuted on a felony charge of possession.”
Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State University, New Orleans Saints
“While Ohio has much to be proud of, it has also been the epicenter of the opioid crisis and of racial overincarceration. It is time to break this cycle of failure. SB3 aims to reduce incarceration rates in Ohio by 2,500 individuals per year and move drug addicted individuals into treatment programs and out of prisons. As a proud Buckeye, and champion for racial and social justice, I wholeheartedly support this effort and urge you to join me by voting yes on SB3.”
Stephen JohnsonGrove, Ohio Transformation Fund
“Your vote in favor of Senate Bill 3 would redefine most low-quantity drug-possession crimes in the future as misdemeanors instead of felonies. By doing so, you will help thousands of Ohioans every year who are already trapped in drug addiction to avoid the additional life-long trap of hundreds of job barriers. … It is a modest, careful step in the direction of less incarceration, more public safety, and more recovery from addiction.”
Blaise Katter, Former Staff Attorney, Recodification Committee; Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
“I respectfully urge this Committee and the House to adopt SB3 as is, as the incredible amount of work and research that went into this bill shows that it strikes the appropriate balance between punishment and rehabilitation of drug offenders. I am incredibly proud to support this bill, and I ask for your support as well.”
Robert Kilo, Cleveland Ten Point Steering Committee
“As a member of the Cleveland Ten Point Steering Committee, I am excited that the Ohio Legislature is doing what it can to make sure more of our citizens are living out their God-given potential outside of prison with services being offered that help provide those trapped in the cycle of addiction a way out.”
Rabbi Rick Kellner, Congregation Beth Tikvah
“Senate Bill 3 has the potential to restore the opportunity for people to get their lives back. Changes to the current law will make access to loans, jobs, housing and education attainable once again. With adequate funds that support recovery, people will be less likely to return to the cycle of addiction, and will be more likely to remain in communities successfully , including rehabilitation as a purpose of felony sentencing is vital to giving Ohio health communities and to respecting the sanctity of human life.”
Zach Klein, Columbus City Attorney
“We can be leaders on this issue – all of us working together in a bipartisan way to help our neighbors who are suffering. To give folks hope and a chance at success – a real opportunity to change their lives so they can be the father or mother, the son or daughter, the friend or neighbor, they truly want to be.”
Lauren Krisai, Justice Action Network
“Senate Bill 3 is smart criminal justice reform that will provide more treatment opportunities for individuals at the beginning of their addiction or criminality, while reserving tougher penalties for more serious drug traffickers.”
Denise Leipold, Right to Life of Northeast Ohio
“Our organization’s mission is to build a culture of life by supporting the sanctity of life from conception through natural death. The main issues which we normally deal with are abortion, embryonic stem cell research, assisted suicide and euthanasia. Theses issues are direct threats to the immediate right to life. The areas where we overlap with other organizations are concerned mostly with the quality of life. The growing opioid crisis in our country, especially here in Ohio, make this an issue on which we are happy to collaborate.”
Sonia Monroy Matis, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
“People with addiction, as well as survivors of crime and others in communities, need access to critical services that would be more readily available if we didn’t spend billions of taxpayer dollars on ineffective responses.”
Steve McGrew, Cornerstone of Recovery
“The consequences of untreated addiction often include other physical and mental health disorders that require medical attention. If left untreated over time, addiction becomes more severe, disabling and life threatening. Mandating drug treatment plans instead of the traditional jail sentence can change lives, improve society, and save billions.”
Micah Mitchell, Former Probation Officer
“Senate Bill 3 provides an opportunity to truly get at the root cause of addiction and move people into recovery. It reduces low-level felony possession charges to misdemeanors, and offers the promise of dismissal if treatment is completed. It could be argued that the prosecution’s leveraging abilities are severed if the threat of a felony is no longer available. But the truth of the matter is, you cannot threaten someone into sobriety. You cannot force someone into recovery. You may force them into treatment, but you cannot force the willingness required of the addict alone to get and stay clean. But by passing senate bill 3, we can ensure that they are not sentenced to live in the same conditions causing them to use in the first place.”
Judge Lauren C. Moore, Greater Cleveland Drug Court
“We must find ways to empower Ohioans who want to be better for themselves and their communities. Senate Bill 3 is a necessary step.”
“Getting these low level offenders out of the prison system could be prudent way to help Ohio’s already overcrowded prisons. The main focus is on reducing crime and helping individuals but, the fiscal benefits from this bill can’t be ignored. The Ohio legislative services commission estimates this bill could save the state $75 million per year. The House and Governor DeWine should act swiftly to get SB3 passed and signed before the year is out. It would be a step towards reducing the size and scope of government power by administering proportional justice to nonviolent offenders, and reducing the need for government spending on prisons.”
Kaitlin Owens, American Conservative Union
“Despite recommendations from the American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of refraining from shackling the mother up to 30 days after childbirth, the widespread use of shackles during transportation to and from medical visits are still used. SB 3 prohibits the shackling of pregnant women and can make a powerful difference in protecting the life of the mother and her unborn child. The dignity of incarcerated women is finally being recognized as a national issue of importance. President Trump recently signed the most consequential criminal justice bill in a generation. The First Step Act addresses some of the inhumane conditions that women are forced to face behind bars. Ohio has the opportunity to continue this hard work and protect incarcerated women. We often look at folks on the inside as those we can’t relate to. As you consider SB 3, I ask that you contemplate the inhumane circumstances these women and children go through. What if this were your mother, sister, wife, or daughter?”
Lisa Richardson, Zepf Center CEO
“"Instead of routing them to a prison, we can route them to treatment. Then they can get well, get their life back."
Robert Richardson, Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP
“We support SB3 as a pathway to righting the wrongs of Ohio’s punitive response to minor drug possession. African Americans make up 14.3 percent of Ohio’s population, while representing nearly half of Ohio’s prison population (21,238 according to ODRC's May monthly report). This is a clear and unfair representation that SB3 can help resolve. A yes vote on SB3 is a vote for fairness, recovery, and stability.”
Steve Rogers, Lucas County D.A.R.T. (Drug Abuse Response Team) Sergeant
"These low-level minor drug offenses not being classified as felonies helps. [They] can really deter somebody's livelihood as far as jobs and job applications."
Alan Smith, R Street Institute
“We believe that Sub SB 3 comprehensively addresses a situation that can be mitigated by what we have learned in the last few years. In our view, it also describes the best manifestation of the public policy process on lawmaking.”
Tom Synan, Newtown Police Chief
“Senate Bill 3 lets law enforcement use those factors to tell possessors from sellers - and charge sellers with trafficking - by creating the new possession with intent trafficking offense. This new tool, and the reclassification of low-level possession, will help law enforcement reduce the flow of drugs on the street by stopping actual 'dealers' and making sure people who are just addicted receive help. We should be open to a few extra steps to ensure we get it right so we can help those in need, while stopping those that prey on the addicted purely for money.”
Wendy Tarr, Vincentian Ohio Action Network
“It is important the reclassification from felonies to misdemeanors for low level possession charges be applied to as wide a population of Ohioans as possible. This will help more people have the chance to overcome their past. If retroactivity is added to this bill then the positive impact on people’s record, as well as the reduction in the prison population, would be greater. This would also have an increased benefit for communities and neighborhoods that have been disproportionately impacted by the “the war on drugs” and face ongoing challenges to stabilize, including communities in both the urban and rural parts of the state.”
Thomas Thompson, Assistant Chief (Ret.), Miamisburg Police Department; Executive Director, Kettering Health Network Police Department
“Senate Bill 3 is the first step in that change. It would reduce the lowest level of felonies, which are mostly related to addiction, to misdemeanor offenses. This reform would save people who get over their addiction from spending the rest of their life trying to get over a felony conviction.
SB 3 would also prevent technical violations of probation—like failing a single drug test—from leading to incarceration. Research shows that people addicted to drugs will almost inevitably relapse in their journey to recover.6 We must stop trying to solve addiction through incarceration.
I also believe that SB 3 will help improve trust between police and the communities they serve. Law enforcement is only as strong as its relationships with the public, because we prevent and solve crime based on information from witnesses and victims. When our officers solicit help in investigations, citizens frequently exhibit reluctance to cooperate if they have experienced loved ones being arrested as a result of their addiction.”
Piet van Lier, Policy Matters Ohio
“The goal is to make sure that we're not putting people in prison who would benefit more from treatment.”
Kevin Werner, Ohio Justice & Policy Center
“People addicted to drugs don’t exercise good judgement or make rational, measured decisions. Their brains are functioning in a very different way than people without addiction issues. Treatment, then, is the most appropriate way to confront and work through addiction. Senate Bill 3 brings Ohio closer to public policy that aligns the medical issue of addition with a medical response of treatment.”
Tim Young, Ohio Public Defender
“The Office of the Ohio Public Defender encourages you to pass SB3. In terms of criminal justice reform and fighting the opioid epidemic, Ohio is getting left behind, and its citizens are suffering. Addiction is not being treated and families are paying the price. The time has come for this legislature to take a bold step. A step that will save lives and improve the entire state. SB3 is that step.”