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DrugScreening.org


 
Study Says N.J. Spends $331 Million Housing Nonviolent Drug Offenders
May 30, 2008

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News Summary

A new study from the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) estimates that New Jersey spends $331 million annually to house nonviolent drug offenders and says implementing alternative sanctions like drug treatment could save the state huge amounts of money, the Associated Press reported May 28.

In addition to direct savings in prison costs, the report said that the state would generate increased tax revenue by allowing nonviolent offenders to rejoin society and the workforce. Individuals who have served time on drug offenses have their earning ability diminished by up to 40 percent, the study said. "We are creating an entire cast of people who will forever be economic and labor force outsiders," said Roseanne Scotti of DPA.

"It is time to stop the madness," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker. "It is time to stop the hemorrhaging of good, hard-earned taxpayer dollars, pouring it into a hole that seems to get deeper and deeper and deeper."

DPA is calling on New Jersey lawmakers to repeal the state's mandatory drug sentences.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by John French on 02 Jun 08 10:56 AM EDT
The admonition to look for innovative programs within corrections begs the question. It makes no more sense to criminalize marijuana use, or for that matter, heroin use, than it does alcohol or tobacco. Let's concentrate the resources on helping addicts, whether alcohol, cocaine, or whatever, rather than send any user into a criminal "justice" system founded in archane laws.

Posted by Paul on 02 Jun 08 10:06 AM EDT
The public need only to look at innovative programs provided by a NJ based private corporation to see how to do "What Works in Corrections". Cmoounity Education Centers of West CaldWell, NJ (CEC) is a major provider of comprehensive and contemporary transitional programs for offenders. The practices of CEC are known by Criminal Justice Professionals to be amoug the best in the industry.

Posted by John on 02 Jun 08 09:10 AM EDT
It is about time that someone recognizes the ridiculous cost to house those individuals who commit victimless offenses. Nation wide the trend has been to "lock up" individuals for drug offenses that could be and should be handled less formally. The problem does not lie with the corrections system, but more with the social stigma that is placed on drug offenders as being inherently "bad" people. We need to shift the social focus of this nation from imprisonment to housing and rehabilitating individuals with drug related problems. Not only would this cost millions less per year, but we could hopefully help many of these people become productive members of the population.

Posted by Jim O'Brien on 02 Jun 08 08:16 AM EDT
The title of this story is misleading. NJ does not spend 331 million "housing" non-violent drug offenders. NJ spends 331 million "imprisoning" non-violent drug offenders.

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