FRANKFORT — State Sen. Ed Worley, D-Richmond, has filed a bill for the 2009 Kentucky General Assembly that would allow arrested drug addicts to receive immediate assistance, resulting in the savings of millions of dollars in treatment costs to the state.
The bill outlines the development of a substance abuse recovery program to house and care for persons suffering from substance abuse who are charged with felony offenses. If they complete the program successfully, these offenders may be eligible for entry into a pretrial diversion program.
“This bill would allow drug offenders to enter the program voluntarily for immediate drug abuse treatment,” Worley said. “That treatment would begin before they even go to trial. The goal is to help addicts get off drugs and stay off drugs, and to get them out of the jails and back into society to lead productive lives.
“It is essential that we reach these offenders to keep them from repeating crimes and from returning to our already overcrowded jails and prisons,” he added. “Although the program is designed for a minimum of 200 beds, the savings to the state would be enormous. For 200 beds, the state could save up to $40 million, an average of $200,000 for each bed.”
Co-sponsoring the bill with Worley is Sen. Dan Kelly, R-Springfield.
Worley, who has supported this same legislation in three other sessions, said the program could prove to be very successful, allowing the state to build upon it for additional assistance for drug abuse offenders.
“We think this will be a wise investment,” Worley explained. “We have too many people with drug problems repeating crimes and filling up our jails and prisons. We need to rehabilitate them so that they can return to normal lives and be contributing members of society rather than repeatedly draining our revenues.”
The General Assembly will take up the bill during the 2009 legislative session which starts today.
Worley represents the 34th district, which includes Madison, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.
