Governor Terry Branstad recently released proposed budget cuts, and many of them are not sitting well with area representatives. In particular, State Senator Rich Taylor took exception to the proposed cuts to the court system. He says under Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady’s leadership, the state has been working toward diverting juveniles out of the court system and prisons. Taylor believes Cady’s system has been a big success, and though he says it costs more initially, it saves the state millions of dollars in the long run. Taylor explains, “These kids, once they get in the prison system, it’s very hard to get them out. But if you can divert them from getting into it in the first place, and let them grow up without a big anchor on their back, it saves the state millions of dollars over what we invest.”

Taylor worked at the Iowa State Penitentiary for 27 years, and says he’s seen what it’s like without any justice reform before Cady began his work. He’s concerned the cuts will have disastrous consequences for the safety of Iowa citizens, while also perpetuating the trap the prison system can be for young people. The proposed cuts to the judiciary system total $7 million, and an additional $15 million in cuts have been proposed for the department of corrections. Cady has publicly condemned the governor’s budget plan in his state of judiciary speech.