Governor Pat Quinn wants to cut millions from Illinois prison drug treatment programs and job placement services... which a prison watchdog group says is asking for trouble.
The proposed $12 million cut is part of the governor's budget plan that would close eight facilities, including the super-max prison in Tamms and halfway houses.
John Maki, executive director of prison watchdog group John Howard Association, says policy makers aren't focusing on the big picture. Maki says prevention and placement programs helps prevent prisoners from returning to an already overcrowded system.
Maki says the loss of rehabilitation programs will mean petty drug offenders will stay in prison longer than necessary. He argues it costs far more to incarcerate a person than to rehabilitate... and Maki says recidivism is greatly reduced when drug users receive help behind prison walls.
