PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR DRUG ADDICTS WHO COMMIT NON VIOLENT CRIMES

I AM A MOTHER WHO'S ONLY SON HAS HAD THE DISEASE OF DRUG ADDICTION, SINCE HE WAS 14 YEARS OF AGE. HE HAS BEEN INCARCERATED TWICE FOR NON VIOLENT CRIMES I.E. THEFT(S) TO SUPPORT HIS ADDICTION. WHILE INCARCERATED HE HAS NEVER BEEN OFFERED NOR RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR HIS DISEASE. BEFORE THE 2ND INCARCERATION I SOUGHT HELP IN THE STATE OF LA AND WAS PUT ON A WAITING LIST FOR A BED TO DETOX AT THE ONLY AVAILABLE STATE FUNDED FACILITY IN LAFAYETTE. BEFORE WE EVER RECEIVED AN OPENING FOR A BED HE WAS ARRESTED IN NEW ORLEANS AND SENTENCED TO 10 YRS. HE WAS RELEASED IN AUG. OF 2012. AFTER ONLY A MONTH THE DISEASE RESURFACED (SINCE HE HAS NO REHAB TOOLS) HE IS NOW IN JAIL AGAIN. WE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL I.E. STATE FUNDED REHAB FOR NON VIOLENT OFFENDERS. THIS IS A PLEA FROM JUST ONE MOTHER