ADDICTION TREATMENT BILL IN WORKS

Conor Williams believes Wisconsin's correctional system punishes more
than inmates. It's punishing taxpayers, he said.

Statistics show that while Wisconsin and Minnesota are similar states
with similar populations, Wisconsin has nearly triple the number of
people serving time in prison.

Minnesota will spend $358 million for their prisons this year.
Wisconsin will spend more than $1 billion.

Williams, a member of the Milwaukee-area WISDOM organization, said
concentrating on treating people with substance abuse problems them
rather than locking them up would save the state money and deal with
crime more effectively. WISDOM is a faith-based organization that
provides advocacy on social justice issues.

"There's no correlation between locking so many people up and keeping
us safer," Williams said. "People come out of prison more
criminalized, come back into our communities and are more of a risk."

Sen. Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, said she hopes to stem the growth of
Wisconsin's correctional system with legislation meant to offer drug
or alcohol treatment as an option to incarceration for certain crimes.

Roessler is now working with judges and district attorneys to iron out
details of the bill. She hopes to have a final bill ready for
introduction into the State Senate by mid-February.

"It would be a win-win situation for everybody," Roessler said. "We
would reduce recidivism, and see changes in behavior and
relationships."

Moving from concept to law could pose challenges.

Roessler said passage of the bill would mark a significant shift in
how criminal defendants are processed in Wisconsin. Funding could be
an issue. The bill would require grants to counties for the purpose of
funding treatment. Alternatives would be considered for defendants in
non-violent criminal cases resulting from drug or alcohol abuse.

Some Wisconsin counties have already applied concepts on Roessler's
bill their own.

Dane and LaCrosse counties use drug court programs to address
substance abuse issues. Offenders directed into drug courts enter
treatment, and often have the opportunity for dropped or reduced
charges if they successfully complete their programs.

Jim Collar writes for the Oshkosh Northwestern.