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The state could save millions by giving judges more leeway when sentencing nonviolent drug offenders. Right now mandatory sentencing forces drug offenders into long prison terms… when studies show shorter terms coupled with drug treatment and job training would serve them better. Dominic Calabro with Florida TaxWatch is supporting legislation that would lift mandatory sentences to help fill the state’s 3.7 billion dollar budget hole.

“Ninety percent of these folks get out of prison and come back into our communities. We want to make sure that they’re not addicted to drugs, that they have the kind of job skills that allow them to be productive citizens,” said Calabro.

The bill has bipartisan support and would increase the amount of drug treatment an inmate would receive and ensure that they get job training and education, which in turn is shown to reduce the chance they would return to prison.