Sen. Dora Drake:
There's still a misnomer of how people see corrections or people that are impacted, especially those of our young people — saying that, obviously, if you did, if you did the crime, you do the crime, if you do the crime, you do the time. I would say that so many of our young people do that, but are penalized for so much more because you can do the time, but that record is still on you regardless. You know, I've heard stories of constituents that young people that have tried to get an apartment or housing don't get access to a place to stay to live. You try to get a job, they're denied for that. So, we all know that you need a house to stay in and you need a job to fend for yourself. If we're not allowing people to get second chances in those two things, especially for our young people that really don't really have much support from the state in that regard on when they do become an adult, then what we are we talking about? If we're going to preach accountability, then we need to talk redemption too. It's important that we give those resources, not just to the young people, again, on the back end, but on the front end more importantly.

Steven Potter:
I mean, the whole system is really based on rehabilitation. You said almost everyone is...

Sen. Dora Drake:
It should be.

Steven Potter:
Right.

Sen. Dora Drake:
It should be.

Steven Potter:
So...

Sen. Dora Drake:
Well, and I think there's other models that other states — and honestly, other countries — are doing far better than we are. You know, there are wait lists of programs that I know young people want to get in, but they can't because the resources aren't there. A lot of that comes from the state not doing their fair share, and so again, corrections cannot be focused on, "We put you away lock and key." No, it needs to be while you're serving your time — accountability, whatever that is — what are we doing to ensure that you have the skills, whether that's getting mental health support, mentorship, or even job skills and your education to ensure that you are fully capable of being successful, and you have the support you need to realize that you don't have to go back to what you did.