Utah Treatment Bill Has Strong Support February 24, 2005
News Summary
A bill that provides millions of dollars to provide criminal offenders with addiction treatment is winning broad support in the Utah legislature and among policymakers, the Deseret News reported Feb. 23.SB 22, the Drug Offender Reform Act (DORA), has the backing of Gov. Jon Huntsman, the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, the state attorney general, and the public at large. The measure calls for increased funding for drug courts and other programs that emphasize treatment over incarceration.
"This 'let's get tough on crime' is wrong," said bill sponsor Sen. Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan). "It sounds good politically, but what we need to say is, 'Let's get smart on crime."
Pat Flemming, director of Salt Lake County Substance Abuse Services and former state director of substance abuse, said that his county alone has a waiting list of 40,000 people needing treatment, and can only help about a quarter of them. Flemming said that costs of treatment are far outweighed by the costs of incarceration and recidivism.
The measure calls for more drug screening of inmates starting in 2007, that first- and that second-time drug offenders be diverted to outpatient treatment. The DORA bill passed both houses of the state legislature last year, but was killed over funding concerns. Backers are hopeful that this year lawmakers will put their money where their mouth is. "We feel very strongly about it," said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, calling the bill "long overdue."
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