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New study urging drug sentencing alternatives in New Jersey to save $$$

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this new AP story, "New Jersey could save millions by reforming sentencing laws for nonviolent drug offenses, a new study finds."  Here are more basic details from the AP report:The Drug Policy Alliance study determined alternatives to jail for nonviolent drug offenders would let more money be invested in the state's poorest families and communities.  It found the state spends $331 million per year jailing nonviolent drug offenders, or more than the entire corrections budgets for 16 states.  It also found the state is also losing out on taxable income by sending nonviolent drug offenders to jail and limiting their future employment. The new Drug Policy Alliance study is titled "Wasting Money, Wasting Lives: Calculating the Hidden Costs of Incarceration in New Jersey," and can be accessed at this webpage...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on May 28, 2008 (boomark / email).