Koch network backing $4 million criminal justice reform initiative

The Texas Public Policy Foundation's Right on Crime initiative — supported by Koch Industries — is launching an effort focused on reducing repeat offenses and successfully reintegrating the incarcerated into society. The initiative will begin in four states —Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Pennsylvania — and will focus on using research to craft new approaches to re-entry.

Why this matters: Criminal justice reform will be a major focus of the Koch network this year, both at state and the federal level. While congressional efforts to tackle the subject fell apart two years ago, there's been chatter about potentially trying again this year — which would seem to have the Koch blessing.