Bloglander

With plans to push for alternatives to jail for non-violent criminals, the Smart Justice Spokane campaign officially launched today.

More than 20 local organizations have signed onto the effort. Among them: the ACLU of Washington, the Center for Justice, Gonzaga's law school and the Spokane Tribe.

The group advocates for early intervention programs and treatment outside of jail for non-violent offenders, claiming such reform will reduce crime, lower prison populations and create a safer community. We wrote about their vision in a cover story this spring.

Tonight at the Bing, the group is sponsoring a talk by Dr. Douglas Marlowe, who travels the country advocating for alternatives to incarceration. An interview with him and details about the event are here.