A Roadmap for Sentencing and Correctional Policy Reform in Wisconsin

The analysis found that in Wisconsin there are approximately 2,900 prisoners with limited criminal histories that need chemical dependency treatment in the Wisconsin prison system. This population of inmates is estimated to cost $83 million annually to maintain. If the state were to divert this inmate population into supervised chemical dependency treatment, prison costs are estimated to drop by $43 million and the prison population would also drop. The cost of offering chemical dependency treatment to this population is estimated at $22 million annually. 

This report by Justice Strategies was commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance. It also recommends that the state create fiscal incentives for the counties to offer chemical dependency treatment. A "community justice incentive" would help reduce Wisconsin's population and cut caseloads by half.