TREATMENT BEATS PRISON

Here's an idea that ought not get lost in the crush of business at the
end of this legislative session: getting drug treatment for
non-violent criminals instead of simply locking them up.

The state Senate managed to adopt just such a proposal in the flurry
of activity at the end of last week. The Senate did not simply adopt
it. The members of the Senate voted unanimously for this measure to
give grants to counties to provide alternatives to jail or prison for
people who abuse alcohol or other drugs.

Now the idea is hanging by a thread in the Assembly. It only has a
chance to pass if the Assembly leadership puts Senate Bill 518 on the
calendar for action on Tuesday - the last day the Assembly is
scheduled to meet in the legislative session.

This is an idea that allows everyone to win. The money would come from
President Bush's "access to recovery" act. It leaves it up to
individual counties to choose whether to apply for the money.
Diverting non-violent offenders out of jails and prisons saves the
state and counties money. And best of all, getting these offenders
treatment would help them turn their lives around while giving the
community both security from future crime and more contributing citizens.

Coalitions of religious groups from Milwaukee and around the state
have been working for three years to get action on this plan. Their
moment is almost at hand.

The end of this legislative session got thrown into turmoil because of
the rancorous debate last week over banning same-sex marriages. As a
result, a lot of good ideas got delayed, and many of them will die.

The Assembly has a chance on Tuesday to rescue at least a few of these
ideas. Giving counties an option to provide badly needed treatment to
non-violent offenders with alcohol and other drug problems is just
such an idea that ought to be rescued.