According to a Houston Chronicle report, 35,000 low-level drug offenders were sent to state jails or prisons in the past five years. The law is expected to reduce the state jail population by 2,500 and save $30 million over the next five years.

"You can save money, save lives, ensure public safety," said state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston). "It's a great investment and return on the dollar to keep people from becoming permanent problems for the state of Texas."

The law applies to first-time felons caught with less than a gram of illegal drugs. Currently, low-level drug offenders are given the option of six months in jail or a longer probation term. Judges said many take the jail time because it's considered the easier way out.

State District Judge Michael T. McSpadden likes the new law, saying it gives judges the discretion to order tougher probation sentences which offenders can't refuse in lieu of jail time.

To prepare for the Sept. 1 effective date, officials are working to establish more treatment facilities. "The governor's criminal-justice division anticipates using grant dollars from the federal level to fund substance-abuse treatment programs around the state," said Gene Acuna, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry. "There will be options."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Annie Hammons on 13 Jun 09 12:13 AM EDT

I can see why many offenders took the 6 month sentence instead of the probation offers...My 18 year old son received a first time drug charge for 1 pill. He was sentenced to 6 months rehab. He is been sitting in jail for over 5 months now waiting on a bed for this rehab. So not only is he getting the 6 months in jail, he also still has 6 months rehab and 5 years probation and probation fees and a felony on his record for the rest of his life.

Posted by Leslie Crofford on 24 Jun 09 12:57 AM EDT

Annie I feel for your son.It is so stupid for your son to have to go through this. This whole drug war is all about wasting taxpayers money and is not working but if drugs were legal there would be people out of jobs or they'd have to spend time chasing murderers,burglars...You'd figure after so many years if something doesn't work change it.The US jails incarcerates the most people in the world but it wastes money that could be used for better health care for our people.

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