Treatment Over Jail Time
Poll: Most Favor Efforts to Combat Addiction Over Punishment

Analysis
By Kate Miltner

June 6 — Americans by nearly a 3-1 margin prefer treatment programs instead of incarceration for first- and second-time drug offenders, a view that could signal support for efforts to revamp the nation's drug laws.



Sixty-nine percent of adults in an ABCNEWS.com poll say they'd support a state law requiring drug treatment over jail time for first and second offenses. Twenty-five percent oppose it.
A group led by financier George Soros has been backing this change, starting with Proposition 36, approved by California voters in November. It places first- or second-conviction nonviolent drug users in treatment programs instead of in jail. The Soros group plans similar campaigns in Ohio, Florida and Michigan next year.

Men and Republicans are marginally less apt to favor treatment programs — they're preferred by 66 percent of men and 62 percent of Republicans, compared to 72 percent of women and 73 percent of Democrats and independents. Better-educated people also are slightly more apt to favor treatment instead of jail time.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone May 16-20 among a random national sample of 1,024 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.

ABCNEWS polls can be found on the Internet in our Poll Vault.

www.abcnews.com (http://www.abcnews.com)

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Manu Narayan

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

Sounds like a good plan until somebody asks you to pay for it.

Originally posted by Manu
June 6 — Americans by nearly a 3-1 margin prefer treatment programs instead of incarceration for first- and second-time drug offenders, a view that could signal support for efforts to revamp the nation's drug laws

What good is a war on drugs without users? DEA agents everywhere are sleeping easier. Reminds me of the catch and release program at the local trout farm.

Originally posted by 86Dude
Sounds like a good plan until somebody asks you to pay for it.

As much as we pay, this IS what we should expect. Six years ago they closed one of the busiest rehab facilities in downtown Houston to build a new jail, nice, eh?

86-

I agree, to a point. I think it should be 'mandatory' rehab, and they should have to foot the cost, unless they cannot afford to do so. That being the case we pay. I figure, if we'd pay fo their incarceration, we may as well pay for mandatory (in house) rehab...

At least we're trying to solve the PROBLEM then, rather than putting a bandaid on the situation.

Originally posted by 86Dude
Sounds like a good plan until somebody asks you to pay for it.


Alot cheaper than prison, that's for sure, besides, this is the richest bestest greatest nicest most wonderful nation on earth right? But when someone screws up it's just **** em, not on my dime. I'm more than willing to make this a better place and to think I would save money with rehab over prison why the hell not?

Or just give them free drugs. Let people register as addicts, then give them free drugs in daily doses. Aas much as they want tin a single dose to be consumed on the spot. hOpefuylly many will OD, others at least will stop committing crimes for drug money.

Originally posted by Corporate Avenger



Alot cheaper than prison, that's for sure, besides, this is the richest bestest greatest nicest most wonderful nation on earth right? But when someone screws up it's just **** em, not on my dime. I'm more than willing to make this a better place and to think I would save money with rehab over prison why the hell not?

Any space created in the prision population by the rehab of non violent drug offenders would be quickly taken up by other inmates. In the end, the prisons would once again be overflowing, but with the added expense of rehabilitation for those fortunate few that are actually given the opportunity to opt out of prison time. Many states, especially small, insignificant ones like Arkansas, can barely afford to pay their teachers salaries let alone come up with money for druggie rehab, a method that only solves the symptom and not the underlying problem. Of course, none of this means that I believe people should be incarcerated for drug use, buy thats a different debate altogether.

Woah woah.

86, whats the underlying problem? I thought getting people UNaddicted to drugs WAS solving the underlying problem, not tossing them in jail for 6 montsh to a few years...

As I said all along, there is no money in rehabilitation. The Prison Industry is hugh. Because there are less and less people going to prison these days the government is getting busy passing new laws to arrest and imprison people. In Illinois they are passing new laws to imprison those people who drive on suspended licenses. Thats our Fascist government for you.

Seig Heil!