Last Updated March 11, 2005

The Drug Policy Alliance continues its work in Wisconsin this year, working with Drug Policy Alliance Network and a growing consortium of community, labor, and religious groups on two initiatives for the 2005 legislative session:

• Treatment Instead of Incarceration legislation.
• Medical Marijuana

Saving Money and Promoting Safety in Wisconsin:
Treatment Instead of Prison (TIP)

The current nationwide fiscal crisis has increased the need for states to find alternative methods for reducing expenditures. State budget surpluses are virtually non-existent and, in order to avoid deficit spending, governors are requiring state agencies to reduce their current costs by at least five to ten percent.  Given that state prison budgets make up a significant share of state expenditures nationwide, there is increased interest in reducing prison populations to save money. In the state of Wisconsin, the fiscal crisis is particularly severe—state prisons are extremely over-capacity despite the fact that their Department of Corrections budget is one of the largest of all state agencies. Wisconsin currently spends over $1 billion a year to hold over 21,000 people in state prisons[1]. In contrast, nearby Minnesota, which shares similar popular demographics[2] and comparable crime rates[3] to Wisconsin, spends under $370 million to hold 8,000 people in state prisons[4]. This stark contrast reflects current budget and policy priorities in Wisconsin—priorities which are leading the state into financial disaster. Both the Department of Corrections and State government recognize the need to reduce this population to reduce deficit spending. The challenge is effectively achieving a reduction in Wisconsin’s incarcerated population while promoting public safety and keeping costs down.

This challenge is not difficult to overcome. By enacting sensible drug policy and sentencing reforms, Wisconsin can save millions of dollars, safely reduce its swollen prison population, and effectively address problems associated with drug abuse. Treatment Instead of Prison legislation will divert nonviolent drug offenders into community based treatment programs, thereby saving taxpayers millions of dollars and reducing the prison population. TIP has already proven highly effective in reducing costs and prison populations in other states such as Maryland, Washington, and California. In short, TIP works and is cost-effective.

The Drug Policy Alliance, in conjunction with our coalition partners (see below), is working to develop TIP legislation in Wisconsin. This legislation will be guided by a thorough analysis of Wisconsin’s prison population and includes the following policy recommendations:

1.) Permit, and in some cases require, nonviolent offenders who is charged with an offense related to the person’s use of drugs to be provided substance abuse treatment as an alternative to prosecution or incarceration.

2.) Authorize treatment in lieu of revocation of probation, parole, or extended supervision.

TIP Coalition Partners  

· Urban Underground
· Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 150
· Task Force on Money, Education & Prisons
· Racine County Taxpayers Alliance
· Congregations United to Serve Humanity (CUSH)
· Wisconsin Council of Churches
· Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
· Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin
· Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC)
· Madison-Area Urban Ministry
· Justice Overcoming Borders (JOB)
· Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
· Justice Organization Sharing Hope and United for Action (JOSHUA)
· Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
· Stewards Of Prophetic, Hopeful, Intentional Action (SOPHIA)
· Wisconsin Association of AODA Agencies
· Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee
· WISDOM Inc.
· Wisconsin Citizens United to Rehabilitate Errants (WI-CURE)
· Equality Solidarity Truth Hope Empowerment Reform (ESTHER)
· Forum For Understanding Prisons (FFUP)

Medical Marijuana

DPA is working with local organizations to bring about safe, legal access to Medical Marijuana in
Wisconsin. On February 15, the first legislative action day in support of Medical Marijuana took place at the
Capitol.

By all accounts, the day was highly successful, bringing about lots of press. DPA is currently working to develop medical marijuana legislation in Wisconsin. Check back soon for updates!

Organizations working on Medical Marijuana in Wisconsin:

Is My Medicine Legal YET?
Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin
Wisconsin NORML