By Stu Johnson
Richmond, KY – Proponents of the legislation estimate moving non-violent offenders out of incarceration and into drug treatment could save over 400 million dollars over a decade. State police commissioner Rodney Brewer is confident the measure won't compromise public safety.
"There are some good risk assessment tools out there that probation and parole and judges use every day and they're pretty good predictors. They are not perfect because humans are all different, but I think overall the bill is real sound," said Brewer.
Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown told state senators public safety could improve if Kentucky lowers the number of repeat offenders. Shelly Hampton with the Kentucky Association of Counties supports the bill, but admits the cost worries her.
"There's no doubt the bill will initially cause more counties to spend more dollars on incarceration. However, we are encouraged by the long range effects such legislation has already made a reality in other states like Texas, Georgia and South Carolina," added Hampton.
House judiciary committee chair John Tilley says four more new drug recovery centers would go on line. Tilley says those facilities along with already existing programs can handle the increased demand for drug treatment. Tilley says inmate numbers could start to come down within the next six months.
"We've passed several pieces of legislation over the past three or four sessions that deal with this burgeoning prison population and we've seen results quickly with those smaller pieces of legislation. So, I think you'll see some impact in that short of time frame," said Tilley.
The overhaul of Kentucky's penal code is hailed as a major compromise, a large number of groups contributing to the measure. The senate votes on the measure next Monday, and Senator Tom Jensen predicts there will be no major hitches.