DRUG COURT BEATS ALTERNATIVE

I went to court Wednesday, April 5. I went to graduation too.

Actually, I went to the Eau Claire County Drug Court's graduation of
its third successful participant. It was powerful and emotional; a
stellar example of how our justice system can work collaboratively
with nonviolent offenders to turn their lives around.

Our state spends more than $25,000 a year per inmate in our state
prisons (it's a little less at the county level). It costs less than
$8,000 per year for a drug court client. Imagine the savings, both
financially and in human capital, not to mention the investment may
well result in these individuals becoming contributing members to our society!

Why are we not expanding this and other programs like it?
Alternatives to incarceration save the taxpayers money and invest in
our community's future. Expanding our investment in alternatives to
incarceration must go hand in hand with our discussion about the
expansion of the Eau Claire County Jail.

I am happy that there will be a discussion about precisely this issue
at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Lake Street United Methodist
Church, 337 Lake St. I hope people will come.

REV. PAUL LESKE OPPEDAHL

Eau Claire