Scott Proposes Rehabilitating Drug Offenders

Republican gubernatorial candidate Will T. Scott says he wants to reshape Kentucky's prison system to better treat non-violent drug addicts.

The former state Supreme Court judge said Friday his plan would steer more drug offenders into minimum-security prisons offering a range of treatment and education programs. Scott says the goal is to cut prison costs and reduce the number of drug re-offenders.

Under his plan, those addicts showing progress could be switched to court-supervised treatment in communities.

Scott says he wants to create a program to better reintegrate drug offenders into society.

He proposes setting up a fund to pay businesses for losses suffered due to wrongdoing by former prisoners they hired.

Scott says the fund would encourage the hiring of ex-inmates. Anyone convicted of a crime would pay a fee to support the fund.