Evers, Kaul announce $1.5M expansion of treatment and diversion options [View all]

Gov. Tony Evers and AG Josh Kaul announced a $1.5 million expansion of treatment and diversion options for non-violent offenders the guv said “moves our state closer to a more compassionate and common-sense approach to criminal justice.”

At a Capitol news conference Monday, Kaul touted the treatment and diversion expansion as “one key component of our three core parts of our response to the opioid epidemic.” The other two: lawsuits against Purdue Pharma entities; and education to prevent opioid addiction.

He said the move was made “interest of fairness,” noting such programs allowed those struggling with addiction and mental illness to receive “an outcome that allows them to return to their lives through treatment or through alternative programming rather than ending up in prison.”

Added Kaul: “It’s also a better outcome for public safety because if we continue the cycle of having people incarcerated, but not addressing the underlying issues that lead to that incarceration, the cycle of crime and incarceration that’s related to substance abuse addiction is going to continue.”

Read more: https://www.wispolitics.com/2019/evers-kaul-announce-1-5m-expansion-of-treatment-and-diversion-options/

ETA: I posted the wrong title in the subject line which I corrected.