Concerned about prison overcrowding and costs, some Florida lawmakers want to reform the state's drug laws to allow for more diversion to treatment and other changes. But Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is opposing changes that would offer alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders, the Miami Herald reported March 15.

The Florida House and Senate are considering bills that would set up a commission to review mandatory-minimum drug sentences and allow for early and supervised work release for nonviolent offenders, among other changes.

"That's the old way; throw a drug addict in jail.  But now we know treatment works, it's better and it's cheaper,"said Sen. Victor Crist (no relation to the governor), chair of the state Senate's criminal-justice appropriations committee. "If you're a violent criminal, you belong in a cell. If you're a drug addict, you belong in a rehab program."

Gov. Crist, however, wants to maintain the status quo. "It's important to make sure that we do what the first order of business is, and that is to ensure domestic tranquility -- make sure that our people are safe -- and that means locking up bad people," he said. As for allowing alternative sentencing for nonviolent criminals, Crist said, "I feel that our laws are good in Florida. They were thoughtfully put in place. And I know there is a budget crunch. But I don't want to sacrifice public safety."

State lawmakers are currently studying the Florida prison population to help determine how many inmates might be eligible for diversion to treatment.

Gov. Crist acknowledged that he personally has smoked marijuana. "I've said many times, people make mistakes," he said. "And what I support about the law is the deterrent effect. Having said that, I'm also recommending about $28 million for substance-abuse [treatment], to help people who might have an addiction or problem with a substance. I think that's important to do as well. I think we have to have balance."