Beggs for reforms

I urge careful attention to the ideas of Breean Beggs, candidate for county prosecutor. He’s highly qualified to lead the justice system improvements detailed in the official “Blueprint for Reform.” I believe that scientific findings from many different cities show how these improvements will make Spokane safer, reduce the number of reoffending criminals and cost less in tax dollars.

The 74 percent of our property taxes spent on police, courts and jail is a misdirection of investment in our community’s future.

When we help people in trouble, their personal improvement makes conditions better for us all. “Corrections” is a fine concept, but our system that focuses on punishment rarely achieves it. It’s proven that we can’t scare people into better behavior. It’s time to try something different – the alternative justice solutions proven elsewhere.

Some are already underway in small court programs in Spokane and endorsed here by a wide variety of leaders inside the courthouse.

Let’s elect Breean Beggs.

John Hancock

Spokane