Republican Governor of Georgia, Nathan Deal, addressed the state legislature last week in his state-of-the-state address, detailing his priorities for the next legislative session.

Part of his policy agenda highlighted the need for reforms to the criminal justice system’s handling of substance abuse offenders.

Deal proposed increasing treatment alternatives for nonviolent drug addicts, rather than incarcerating them at high costs to Georgia taxpayers with little effective return. He noted the public safety benefits of prioritizing resources to attack drug addiction, rather than directing too many of these resources to lengthy—and costly—prison stays.