This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
One in 110 U.S. residents accounts for the population that is currently incarcerated. Of these, almost half of them are drug-related crimes.
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative was a step in the right direction but it isn't enough. It is designed to reduce the amount of citizens incarcerated and reduce recidivism but, for those offenders who have an addiction, reintegration into society is difficult.
Treatment, the alternative to incarceration, needs to be perfected within and outside of a correctional facility. Emphasis needs to be placed on treatment outside of a correctional facility, however, because the outcomes tend to be more positive.
With the money saved by decreasing the numbers within the system, there should be some wiggle room to encourage adequate treatment. On average, treatment costs about one-fifth of the price of incarceration. For every dollar spent on treatment, there is a substantial increase in the money returned to the pockets of taxpayers.
The ultimate goal of society is to successfully reintegrate the population back into the community successfully and safely. Treatment is the best chance at accomplishing this goal.
Amanda Griffiths
Bountiful