You could see a lower recidivism rate for incarcerated individuals if a bill coauthored by State Senator Andre Jacque becomes a reality. The New Franken Republican joined Rep. Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) in a measure that would expand the Treatment Alternatives and Diversion program to include people with a mental illness. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, nearly half of the non-violent criminals in Wisconsin prisons suffer from a mental disease, accounting for more than 3,500 individuals. The TAD program currently allows inmates to take advantage of diversion resources to help them with drug and alcohol addictions. Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski favors the bill, especially as prisons become more crowded ahead of the potential closure of Green Bay Correctional Institution in 2029. He says they have a captive audience when incarcerated, so it only makes sense to do what they can to get their lives back on track.

According to the state’s TAD report, the report has a good return on investment with the state saving approximately $5 to $9 on treatment court and diversion programs for every one dollar spent on TAD. This is the second time Jacque has introduced the measure, telling the Journal Sentinel that it was never taken up in the Assembly after passing the Senate in 2023.