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Verbatim transcript of responses to question on treatment
alternatives by Wisconsin attorney general candidates Paul Bucher
and Kathleen Falk, May 24, 2006 Question A recent study by Justice Strategies identified 2,900 people in our state prisons who are, by most any measure, non-violent and not a threat to safety. Justice Strategies suggests that an investment of $22 million in community-based treatment options could reduce our state prison population by 2,900 people and could save the state more than $50 million in incarceration costs. As attorney general, would you advocate for the state to invest $22 million in treatment alternatives for non-violent offenders with substance abuse issues? Bucher Answer Would I as attorney general advocate the state to invest 22 million dollars in treatment alternatives for non-violent offenders with substance abuse issues? The answer is ‘yes.’ Would I take that particular number of 22 million? No, not necessarily. Would I advocate the state to invest money in alternatives for non-violent offenders with substance abuse issues? Sure. Absolutely. I do that now as district attorney and I would continue doing that as attorney general. Now, that being said, that does not mean I subscribed to some of the philosophies that are in the study that came out with that question. … I’m simply prefacing on that last question, that is, would I advocate for additional money whether it’s 22 million or 20 million or ten million, I don’t care how much it is, for alternatives for individuals with substance abuse issues? You bet. Absolutely. Where I would advocate that money be applied, well, that might be a different story. And to whom that money should be applied, and how it should be applied, that also might be a different story. But globally, perspective, yes, absolutely. I believe the state has a responsibility, in fact in Waukesha County we are doing that now in several different areas. But how we do it – the devil’s in the details. How we would apply that money? Who is going to apply that money? What does that mean if we’re dealing with substance abuse issues? What does that mean – we are letting people out of prison? Does it mean we’re trying to divert people from prison? Those are the issues that I think are more germane rather than just simply that question. That’s an easy question. But more important is how to accomplish that. And I’d be happy to answer those questions on a more detailed basis as to what I support and what I don’t support. And I’m sure there will be follow up questions from the audience. But in response to that question – yes. We have Waukesha County Treatment Court in Waukesha County, obviously that’s part of the [inaudible]. Our office just signed on to the [inaudible] program. Brad Schimel, the assistant district attorney, with me obviously has been very instrumental in that. So, absolutely. And I think we can do more with that. But I reject some of the findings and some of the conclusions that are part of that study. But I accept the consensus that we need to do more in that area. Falk Answer As I think I made it very clear in my other comments, not only do I agree with the proposition put forward but I myself offered that in a statewide campaign four years ago with a very detailed and comprehensive package of how I would do that. And that is by giving judges the tools at sentencing – both the legal tools and the resources – to provide treatment and accountability at the sentencing stage. I did refer briefly before to the fact that Mr. Bucher has misrepresented my position of four years ago as we have been campaigning together over the last six months. I do not support releasing violent people from prison. Now one of the pieces of hope, I hope we have gotten from this so far, too, is not only the description of these programs that I’ve described that we’ve done, that work, we know work, that are working, is that we are building community around the state that now also is beginning to agree with that, and this is what leadership and courage that you are doing by this work is all about. Because there are many of you around the state. Until the point where – and I find this very hopeful – the legislature in just this last budget, in a very bipartisan effort with representatives like Gary Bies, a Republican, Senator Carol Roessler, a Republican, working with Democrats through the budget process and putting into place in this year’s budget about three quarters of a million dollars for state grants [inaudible] to do the kinds of work we’re talking about here tonight. So what you are working on here is making a difference. That others around the state are seeing that this works, that we’re now getting some state resource to do even more of it. What I offer here as an attorney general candidate, somebody who’s done it at the grassroots level, knows that it works, and will be that advocate for these reforms statewide. Thank you. |
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