The $6 million DORA program was designed to reduce jail expenses and the rate of repeat offenders by taking first-time, non-violent drug offenders and placing them in drug-treatment programs. Over eighty percent of inmates have drug dependencies.

The DORA plan was slated to treat over 4,000 probationers in an effort to trim the 66 percent recidivism rate among drug offenders. Advocates say DORA's failure would allow already growing waiting lists to continue to expand while doing nothing to help an ever-increasing prison population.

After the year's final spending bill was assembled on Feb. 28, the DORA plan still lacked a House member to sponsor it, and a deal had yet to be made between the House and Senate to ensure its passage.