The Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments earlier this week appointed State Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, to its Criminal Justice Board of Directors.
Members of the board include legislative leaders, state corrections directors, juvenile justice policymakers, leading judges, prosecutors, and others from the 10 northeastern states, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Nova Scotia.
In welcoming Sen. Bill Diamond, Rep. Michael E. Festa (D-MA), Chair of the Criminal Justice Board, stated, “Sen. Diamond has been a key leader in corrections policy and other public safety issues in Maine. His experience, expertise and perspective add an important dimension to the board.”
Over the past several years, the Board has developed bipartisan recommendations on pressing criminal justice issues, including the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system, the growing numbers of people released from prison and jail each year, services and rights provided to crime victims, and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. States across the country have used these recommendations to develop legislative initiatives, and Congress has worked closely with leaders of the board to shape national policy around these issues.
Diamond said of the appointment, “I am looking forward to using our experiences in Maine to inform the board’s efforts, and I think Maine will benefit considerably from my role on the board.”
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