The groups are backing Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP), an initiative to study the benefits of addiction treatment for offenders. Members of the group include the Racine County Taxpayers Alliance, the Task Force on Money, Education, and Prisons, and the faith-based justice advocacy group Justice Organization Sharing Hope and United for Action (JOSHUA).

TIP advocates bolstered their case with data showing the cost of untreated addiction and testimony from a woman who said treatment helped her avoid prison. They said treatment would save money and make communities safer.

"TIP is highly accountable," said Nicole Hull of the group Empowerment, Solidarity, Truth. Hope, Equality, Reform (ESTHER). "It puts accountability on the individual and not just relying on the criminal justice system to take care of that."

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