PRISON DOOMS DRUG OFFENDERS

As you have recently reported, funding for residential and outpatient
drug- abuse treatment programs was cut severely during a special
session of the Florida Legislature. Lawmakers weighed heavily the
decision to reduce funding for these programs against the core
functions of the Florida Department of Corrections, such as security
and public safety.

Gov. Jeb Bush's executive budget, released in early January, outlined
a $7.3 million restoration of substance-abuse treatment funds. His
recent supplemental budget included an additional $3.1 million to
restore fully the residential and outpatient substance- abuse
treatment programs.

Under Bush's leadership, funding for residential and outpatient
substance-abuse programs has increased steadily. In fact, we have
seen a 33 percent funding increase since fiscal year 1997-98.

The governor and I recognize that to fight crime effectively, we must
do all we can to make sure offenders don't return to prison.
Substance- abuse treatment programs help reduce recidivism and the
cost to taxpayers for repeat incarcerations. I fully support the
governor in asking the Legislature to restore these programs, which
have been an important tool in fighting crime on our streets, in our
communities, and in the neighborhoods we call home.

MICHAEL MOORE, Secretary Department of Corrections Tallahassee