A nonprofit group laid out a recipe Thursday to reduce Utah’s prison and jail populations, cut crime, save lives and unburden taxpayers.
Effective drug treatment programs are a major part of the solution, the Utah Foundation said in its study, “Rethinking Rehabilitation.”
Treatment in the long run cuts costs in the criminal justice system and reduces repeat offenses, the report said.
Programs that address prisoners’ mental health or substance use problems can save taxpayers up to $5.27 for every $1 spent, the report said, quoting information from the federal Council of Economic Advisers.
Treatment also reduces overdose deaths after offenders’ release from prison or jail and lowers the risk of inmates dying from withdrawal in jails, the report said.
“Some of it ought to get anybody’s attention — if you invest in rehabilitation that is effective, you’re going to save taxpayers a lot of money,” Peter Reichard, foundation president, said in an interview.
“More than a fivefold return on investment for drug rehab for offenders? Even if that number is half right, it’s something that anybody with fiscal responsibility will notice.”