Incoming Gov. Kelly, Koch Industries agree on need for reform as Kansas prisons fill up

TOPEKA -- Kansas Gov-elect Laura Kelly wants criminal justice reform at the state level as Congress and President Donald Trump move forward with federal changes to sentencing laws.

Wichita-based Koch Industries – a major proponent of the just-passed federal legislation – also wants to work with Kelly on changes in Kansas.

The incoming Democratic governor’s call for action comes after the state’s prison system experienced its largest increase in inmates in a decade. Projections show the inmate population exceeding capacity within the next couple years.

Kelly’s agenda reflects a growing movement in Kansas to soften penalties for marijuana use and legalize medical use.

Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article223378090.html