MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Education and criminal justice reform seem to be at the tops of minds of some Shelby County lawmakers headed to Nashville on Tuesday.
“I’m looking at root cause legislation,” Rep. Antonio Parkinson said. “How can we get to the root of some of these challenges that we’re dealing with?”
Rep. Parkinson is looking at legislation to make it easier for ex-convicts to get jobs and vote.
“Once they have paid their debt to society, I think it’s important for us as a state to start removing some of these barriers that are in place that will allow them to be true, productive citizens in our communities,” Parkinson explained.
Rep. Raumesh Akbari, of District 91, is looking to sponsor other bills in criminal justice reform which would make some felony charges misdemeanors.
“So that we’re not crowding our jails with nonviolent offenders and instead those that are truly committing these terrible crimes that we will have that incarceration space,” Rep. Akbari explained.
State Sen. Mark Norris told WREG voters will likely see many national issues debated at the state level, like gun control and same-sex marriage.
“That is something that’s been a concern to Tennesseans since the United State Supreme Court ruled as it did,” Sen. Norris said over the phone on Monday. “Our law is different, our constitution is different and the issue needs to be addressed.”
The deadline for lawmakers to submit legislation is later this month.