Pubdate: Tue, 11 Apr 2006
Source: Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI)
Copyright: 2006 Eau Claire Press
Contact: http://www.cvol.net/contacteditor.htm#editorform
Website: http://www.leadertelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/236
Author: Rev. Paul Leske Oppedahl
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

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
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman