(55 ILCS 130/5)

Sec. 5. Findings; purpose. The General Assembly finds as follows:

(1) One of the many objectives of the Illinois criminal justice system is individual rehabilitation.

(2) The incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders with families breaks the family unit.

(3) The recidivism rate of nonviolent drug offenders in Illinois is 53%.

(4) Nonviolent drug offenders are in need of alternatives to incarceration such as counseling and treatment.

(5) Drug addiction is recognized as a health issue around the country.

(6) The Cook County State's Attorney drug school program has a success rate of over 85%.

(7) The State of Illinois spends $22,607 on one adult incarceration.

(8) The State of Illinois will save more than $17,000,000 if treatment programs are offered in lieu of incarceration.

The purpose of this Act is to establish, subject to appropriation, a drug school program for nonviolent drug offenders statewide modeled after the Cook County State's Attorney drug school program.

(Source: P.A. 95-160, eff. 1-1-08.)