Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Department

Political Science and Public Administration

Abstract

The criminal justice system in the U.S. has typically been focused more on punishment in the past, but in recent times has shifted more towards implementing rehabilitative measures as a means to reduce the recidivism rate, and thus decrease the overall incarceration rates for the U.S.. An area that is especially different is drug offenses, as many of those that are arrested are addicted, and punishment does not address that addiction directly. By using alternative sentencing as a means of rehabilitation for drug offenses, the criminal justice system can work to address the issues at the root causes as well help those arrested become functioning members of society again. This also works to decrease the amount spent on the criminal justice system as incarceration is very expensive. As it currently stands, Wisconsin has a statewide Treatment Alternative and Diversion (TAD) program that works to help keep drug offenders from becoming incarcerated. These funds are distributed to the different counties that take part and they have full discretion on how that money is used for TAD programs. Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota, 3 states that border Wisconsin, have statewide initiatives. Each of these three states also differ from Wisconsin in the fact that each currently have possession of marijuana decriminalized, and have a tax on the sale of marijuana. Comparing the current state of TAD and marijuana in Wisconsin with the aforementioned states will show how an increase in TAD and the legalization of marijuana could benefit Wisconsin.

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