SENTENCES FOR DRUG OFFENDERS CRITICIZED

The state could have saved
almost $50 million last year had it used more drug treatment programs
and alternative sentencing instead of jailing nonviolent drug
offenders, according to a community group-commissioned report released
today.

Illinois taxpayers paid about $246 million to incarcerate nonviolent adult
offenders in 2003, according to "Sentencing Reform for Nonviolent Offenses:
Benefits and Estimated Savings for Illinois," a study prepared by the Center
for Impact Research on behalf of the Developing Justice Coalition, whose
members will meet with policymakers and public officials today at noon at
the Union League Club of Chicago to discuss the findings.
The number of Illinois inmates -- 244,400 last year -- has been rising by
5.6 percent a year from 1977 to 2002, with nonviolent drug offenders,
including those arrested for possession of small amounts of drugs, fueling
the increase, according to the report. That group accounted for about 25
percent of the adult inmates in 2003.