Six counties to test treatment over jail

Offenders must meet conditions before receiving treatment.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Gov. Bob Taft announced Monday that six counties will test a program that provides treatment instead of jail time for certain drug offenders -- four years after fighting to defeat a similar idea on the statewide ballot.
The counties will share $2.5 million for treatment and counseling for offenders who are juveniles or who have children and are earning less than twice the federal poverty level.
Allen, Franklin, Hamilton, Mahoning, Richland and Washington counties will decide which drug offenses qualify someone for the program and what services to offer. Incentives for the offenders could include dismissing the charges or clearing or sealing a criminal record upon successful completion of the program.
In a release Monday, Taft cited the success of Ohio's 65 drug courts, which have the option of ordering treatment instead of jail.
"Today we are going a step further to help communities provide the counseling and other drug treatment services to help individuals to assume a productive role in society rather than [become] a long-term member of Ohio's prison system," he said.
Issue 1
The project differs from 2002's Issue 1, which failed by 2-to-1 at the polls. It would have required judges to impose treatment instead of jail for all first- or second-time nonviolent offenders who asked for treatment.
Taft called the ballot issue "seductive, deceptive and dangerous" when opposing it along with Ohio's police, prosecutors and top judges.
"He's never been opposed to treatment in lieu of prison," Taft spokesman Mark Rickel said.
The Republican governor's objections were that the mandatory treatment would undermine the authority of drug courts, and that putting the measure in the state constitution would make problems extremely difficult to fix.
Edward Orlett, who headed the campaign for the 2002 issue, issued a statement reading: "We believe in redemption for anyone, including Governor Taft."
However, Orlett said about 80 percent of offenders aren't juveniles or are childless and won't be helped.