Wed., February 16, 2011 5:47pm (EST)

Lawmakers Target High Prison Rolls

By Susanna Capelouto

Updated: 2 years ago

ATLANTA  —   Georgia lawmakers want to set up a special council to study ways of reducing Georgia's prison population. Like other states around the country Georgia is pushing for reforms in how it deals with non violent offenders.

In many cases, advocates say, rehabilitation is a cheaper option than incarceration. Governor Nathan Deal says the council will study reform option all year and report it's findings next January

"We are hopeful that we can uncover new approaches to make Georgia safer, to increase offender accountability and lower cost."

Georgia spends about $18,000 dollars a year to house a non violent drug offender. Treatment programs, advocates say, are a much cheaper option.