PA Senate Adopts Legislation on 'Problem Solving' Courts

http://1490newsblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/senate-adopts-legislation-on-pr...

Excerpt: The [Pennsylvania] Senate today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Jane C. Orie, Majority Whip (R-Allegheny) which seeks to improve public safety while at the same time providing more extensive supervision of non-violent offenders.

Problem solving courts, which include mental health courts and drug courts, divert non-violent offenders from more costly jail cells and encourage rehabilitation through extensive supervision.

"As a former prosecutor and a strong advocate for improving our drug rehabilitation and mental health systems, I believe this legislation is crucial to helping those in need and to improving public safety," Orie said. "These courts will reduce prison overcrowding and improve cooperation between our criminal justice system and drug and alcohol and mental health systems."