2020 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Crime


Kay Ivey: Build three new prisons, but focus on rehabilitation

Work is well underway in addressing our antiquated and crumbling prison infrastructure. Some of our worst, most over-crowded facilities--one of which was built more than 90 years ago -- were never designed for the number of violent offenders we have today. That is why I tasked Commissioner Dunn to spearhead the efforts to build three new prisons that will transition our facilities from warehousing inmates to rehabilitating people.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address Feb 4, 2020

Bill Lee: Increase penalties for firearm theft & reckless endangerment

First and foremost, we must be tough on crime. Last year, we cracked down on fentanyl traffickers, and this year I propose increasing the criminal penalties associated with theft of a firearm and increasing the criminal penalties associated with reckless endangerment of a police officer or first responder.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature Feb 3, 2020

Bill Lee: Improve supervision; encourage hiring of former prisoners

First, we want to expand our recovery courts so that veterans and those struggling with addiction or mental health challenges will have access to specialized supervision. Second, we want to improve our use of community supervision, including at the end of a prison sentence. Third, we want to encourage those leaving prison to secure employment by revising the occupational licensing process and encouraging employers to hire the formerly incarcerated.
Source: 2020 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature Feb 3, 2020

Kevin Stitt: Consolidated work of Dept. of Corrections and Parole Board

I was told that a change in our prison system wasn't possible without an immediate $1 billion. I was told the Pardon and Parole Board could not take on an increase in casework without more employees and funding. What did we do? Pardon and Parole Board consolidated its investigators with Department of Corrections. This streamlined the case work while increasing it by 118% over 2018 without a single dollar more. The number of Oklahomans in our state prisons declined by 7.6% from 2018.
Source: 2020 Alabama State of the State address Feb 3, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Criminal justice reform starts with phasing out cash bail

This spring, working with legislators, we will begin the long path toward a fairer criminal justice system. That starts with phasing out cash bail and following many of the recommendations made by the bipartisan criminal justice reform commission created by my predecessor, most of whose ideas were never adopted because of the rancor and dysfunction.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

Mike Dunleavy: The days of catch-and-release are over

First, we addressed the crime wave that held our communities hostage by enacting comprehensive criminal justice reform. As I promised, we repealed and replaced SB91, removing violent criminals and sexual predators from the streets. The days of catch-and-release are over, and the criminals know it.
Source: 2020 Alaska State of the State address Jan 27, 2020

John Carney: Inmates should leave prison better than when they entered

Last year, I signed an Executive Order to help ex-offenders more successfully reenter their communities. This year, all inmates sentenced to more than a year in custody get individualized plans as soon as they enter prison. The plans focus on drug treatment, education, and job skills. It's in everyone's interest that these individuals leave prison better off than when they entered.
Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address Jan 23, 2020

Henry McMaster: Invest $100 million in upgrading prisons

We are all aware of the struggles facing the men and women working at our Department of Corrections: contraband, violence, gangs, staffing shortages, health care deficiencies. This must change. I ask that we invest at least $100 million dollars toward making our prisons safer and more secure, both inside and outside the fence, by replacing and repairing existing infrastructure, facilities and control systems.
Source: 2020 South Carolina State of the State address Jan 22, 2020

Tony Evers: Granted the first pardons in our state in nine years

I also promised that criminal justice reform would be a central focus of my administration. Part of reforming our criminal justice system is believing in forgiveness and the power of redemption--things that I think speak to the character of our state. I made good on my campaign promise to reinstate the pardon review board. We granted the first pardons in our state in nine years, offering forgiveness and a second chance to folks who've made amends in their lives and communities.
Source: 2020 Wisconsin State of the State address Jan 22, 2020

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Dangerous, repeat offenders have got to be in jail

Let's all agree that the days of hardened, violent, repeat offenders not doing any real time, getting unwarranted second and third and fourth chances because our system is too broken to hold people accountable . those days must end and they must end now. New Mexicans are sick and tired of seeing predators circle in and out of custody, never facing the full force of the law. I am too. Dangerous, repeat offenders have got to be in jail.
Source: 2020 New Mexico State of the State address Jan 21, 2020

Brian Kemp: Launched Anti-Gang Task Force to keep neighborhoods safe

This year, we launched the Anti-Gang Task Force at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. We are partnering with local law enforcement and prosecutors to "stop and dismantle" gangs throughout Georgia. We are providing the resources and training needed to put these dangerous criminals behind bars. We are working around the clock to keep our neighborhoods safe.
Source: 2020 Georgia State of the State address Jan 16, 2020

Brian Kemp: We must end modern-day slavery in our state

Every day, hundreds of people are bought and sold for sex in our state. We created the GRACE Commission to help coordinate efforts to end modern-day slavery in our state. We must advance legislation this session that closes loopholes that leave children vulnerable to exploitation. We must help victims tell their story in the courtroom without fear of retaliation. We must support survivors who want to enter the workforce but still bear the scars of the past.
Source: 2020 Georgia State of the State address Jan 16, 2020

Mike Parson: I am not interested in building more prisons

As many of you know, the Department of Corrections is faced with many challenges. AND, we will NOT shy away from these challenges. As a former sheriff and law enforcement officer for over 22 year I understand, firsthand, the importance of re-entry programs and alternative sentencing. We need to be more efficient in these programs so we truly offer a second chance AND as Governor, I am NOT interested in building more prisons.
Source: 2020 Missouri State of the State address Jan 15, 2020

Eric Holcomb: Training programs for felons reduced recidivism

I challenged our Department of Correction to graduate 1,000 inmates annually in certified programs that lead to good jobs when they get out--both to boost our economy and because they are less likely to return to prison. I'm happy to report, that as of today the DOC has graduated more than 3,000 inmates in just two year. Because of these new programs and opportunities, our state recidivism rate has dropped 4 percent.
Source: 2020 Indiana State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Kim Reynolds: Priority to focus on prisoner re-entry, rehabilitation

I've made it a priority of this administration to focus on prisoner re-entry and rehabilitation, because our prisons shouldn't be one stop in a circle that leads back to prison. Last year, I signed legislation that protects employers who are willing to give returning citizens a second chance. I am renewing my support to amend our Constitution so that it no longer bars felons from voting after they've served their sentence.
Source: 2020 Iowa State of the State address Jan 14, 2020

Doug Ducey: Decreased recidivism means a state prison can be shut down

We've provided more opportunities and we've decreased the amount of people returning to prison and helped many find meaningful work. There's another marker we are going to meet this year. We're shutting down a state prison.
Source: 2020 Arizona State of the State address Jan 13, 2020

Andrew Cuomo: Bail reform is right, but complicated

Bail reform is right. You have a criminal justice system that basically says now you get arrested, if you can make bail you're released, if you can't make bail you sit in Rikers for two years and get abused until you have your day in court. Bail is predicated on wealth. That's not justice. Changing the system, which we started to do, is complicated and then has a number of ramifications. There's no doubt this is still a work in progress and there are other changes that have to be made.
Source: 2020 New York State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

Ralph Northam: Release unthreatening older or terminally offenders

Criminal justice reform includes reforming parole. If offenders are older, or terminally ill, and they've paid their debt to society, and they're no longer a threat--what's the benefit in keeping them from being eligible for parole? This is about simple justice and fairness. When you've paid your debt, we should welcome you back, encourage you to participate in civil society, and restore your right to vote. The data show that, and it's just the right thing to do.
Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

Brad Little: Intervention better than incarceration to turn lives around

Two-thirds of Idaho inmates are in prison because of probation and parole violations--more than any other state in the country. Idaho taxpayers pay $110 million per year to incarcerate this population. I am seeking continued investments in community reentry centers, where inmates returning to our neighborhoods can learn job and life skills. The cost of investing in proven interventions that help inmates turn their lives around before they reoffend is fractional to the cost of incarceration.
Source: 2020 Idaho State of the State address Jan 6, 2020

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Crime.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Crime.
  • Click here for more quotes by Charlie Baker on Crime.
Candidates and political leaders on Crime:

Gubernatorial Debates 2020:
DE: vs.Carney(incumbent) vs.Williams(D)
IN: vs.Holcomb(incumbent) vs.Melton(D) vs.Myers(D)
MO: Parson(incumbent) vs.Galloway(D) vs.Neely(R)
MT: Bullock(retiring) vs.Fox(R) vs.Perry(R) vs.Gianforte(R) vs.Stapleton(R) vs.Olszewski(R) vs.Neill(D) vs.Schreiner(D) vs.Cooney(D) vs.Williams(D)
NC: Cooper(incumbent) vs.Forest(R) vs.Grange(R)
ND: Burgum(incumbent) vs.Coachman(R) vs.Lenz(D)
NH: Sununu(incumbent) vs.Volinsky(D) vs. fsFeltes(D)
PR: Rossello(D) vs.Garced(D) vs.Pierluisi(D)
UT: Herbert(retiring) vs.Huntsman(R) vs.Cox(R) vs.Burningham(R) vs.Newton(D) vs.Hughes(R)
VT: Scott(incumbent) vs.Holcombe(D) vs.Zuckerman(D)
WA: Inslee(incumbent) vs.Bryant(R) vs.Fortunato(R)
WV: Justice(incumbent) vs.Folk(R) vs.Thrasher(R) vs.Vanover(D) vs.Smith(D) vs.Ron Stollings(D)
Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
NJ:
Murphy(D) vs.Ciattarelli(R)
VA:
Northam(D,term-limited) vs.Herring(D) vs.Chase(R) vs.Fairfax(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2019:
KY:
Bevin(R) vs.Goforth(R,lost primary) vs.Adkins(D,lost primary) vs.Beshear(D) vs.Edelen(D,lost primary)
LA:
Edwards(D) vs.Rispone(R) vs.Abraham(R) vs.Kennedy(R,declined)
MS:
Bryant(R,retiring) vs.Foster(R) vs.Hood(D) vs.Reeves(R) vs.Waller(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021