Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 2009 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2009 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: http://www.suntimes.com/aboutus/feedback/index.html Website: http://www.suntimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81 Author: Pamela F. Rodriguez, DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS CUT CRIME Gov. Quinn has threatened to eliminate funding for drug treatment and wipe out two extraordinarily successful drug treatment prisons, releasing 2,200 offenders (Gov. Quinn paints "doomsday" budget picture, May 18). Some are not taking the governor's threats seriously. I am. The elimination of drug treatment would be a disastrous move. For families who need help for loved ones, the absence of treatment is tragic. For communities beset by drug use and crime, the absence of treatment is dangerous. Offenders mandated to community-based drug treatment are a third less likely than other probationers to re-offend. Without treatment in the community, there will be more crime. Offenders who go through the Sheridan or Southwest Illinois drug treatment prisons are 40 percent less likely to return to prison than those who didn't get these services. Without dedicated drug treatment prisons, there will be more crime as 2,200 offenders return to local communities. In this economy, it would be foolhardy to cut the very services that make our communities safer. These cuts would cause Illinois to lose millions of dollars in federal matching funds. The governor's "doomsday" budget proposal cannot be taken lightly. Without treatment, the real doomsday will occur when our communities face an explosion in drug-related crime. Pamela F. Rodriguez, executive vice president, TASC, Inc. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom