Represent Ulery is working with the Policy Research Shop of the Nelson D. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College on the costs of incarceration in the New Hampshire State Prison system. A team of students under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Cravens is using a previously introduced bill which Ulery Co-Sponsored with Senator Sharon Carson to attempt to control the costs of imprisonment as a starting point. That bill was held for Interim Study and needed additional information. “The introduction of the bill was an attempt to bring to light the high costs associated with imprisonment and seek alternatives” said Ulery of his support. Ulery commented that “while New Hampshire is ranked as one of the safest States in the nation, we have some of highest costs per person. That is an area that can and should be addressed.”
The students in the project hail from as far away as Korea, but include folks from Memphis and Ft. Lauderdale as well. Ulery will bring his work in Criminal Justice in the past, recommendations from fellow legislators, association with Right On Crime think tank and his participation in ALEC to the task. The Research Group will examine alternative approaches to incarceration that have reduced costs in Hawai’i and Texas. Perhaps more importantly, such approaches have reduced recidivism and thus criminal activity in those states. Said Ulery, “It is hoped that the scholastic research of this group will develop data to help New Hampshire reduce criminal behavior and reduce what some estimate as the $33,000/per prisoner annual costs” http://www.jailnation.com/nh/. Armed with the data developed and analyzed over the next few months effective legislation supporting the goals of reducing recidivism and prison costs is planned to be introduced by Ulery should he be re-elected.
Jordan Ulery
Hillsborough-37
NH State Representative
163rd General Court