According to the report "Sentencing Reform for Nonviolent Offenses: Benefits and Estimated Savings for Illinois," the state could have saved nearly $50 million last year if more drug-treatment programs and alternative sentencing were used instead of jailing nonviolent offenders.

The report, prepared by the Center for Impact Research, found that Illinois taxpayers paid $246 million for prison expenses of nonviolent adult offenders in 2003.

The report further found that the 5.6 percent a year increase in Illinois inmates from 1977 to 2002 was a result of jailing nonviolent drug offenders for small amounts of drugs.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:
Comment: (limit 250 words)
Enter this word (help):	Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines