The Utah Senate last week approved S.B. 22, the Drug Offender Reform Act, sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars. The measure would set aside $6.3 million for screening offenders for substance abuse; initially, the policy would only be applied to drug offenders, but would be extended to all offenders by 2006.

"We know treatment works," Buttars said.

The state House will now consider the measure, which has the backing of Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr.

"This really is the direction to go," said Sen. Greg Bell. "Fully 85 percent of our prisoners have some type of substance-abuse problem ... If we get them therapy, we're going to see a real payback to our state."

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