Home  About  In the News  Publications  Blog  Join  Donate  Energy challenge poster designed by Nick Bradley of Otis. Announcements National Expo: July 11th Hyde Park Summit: August 14-17 Essay Winners Announced in The Nation On Campus Iowa Chapter Holds Forum Zach Hindin in the GW Hatchet Coverage of the Johns Hopkins Chapter Launch > More "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." — Teddy Roosevelt    Colleen G Kozicz School: University of Wisconsin - Madison Member of: Expo Cocktail Reception Roosevelt Policy Expo 2006 Center on Justice and Legal Processes University of Wisconsin - Madison Policy interests: Criminal justice, Healthcare, Human rights Wisconsin's spending  towards incarceration is amongst the highest of the nation's states, notably second only to New York in 2001.  As incarceration rates skyrocket it is only natural that spending  increase astronomically as well.  Interestingly, the majority of inmates are behind bars due to some sort of drug offense.  Consequentially, families are left torn apart, addictions are left agitated and untreated, and the problem continues to exist (even behind bars).  We must ask ourselves and our legislators how it is that we can change the makeup of the incaraceration systen within Wisconsin.  How can this state  improve its correctional policies while better allocating funding. More importantly, how can Wisconsin focus its resources towards rehabilitating criminals with drug addictions in hopes to help decrease the source of incarceration?  I ask these questions as a means to spark more questions and , in the end, gain some progress for Wisconsin's people.   The Roosevelt Institution is a nonpartisan, nonprofit national think tank devoted to bringing students' policy ideas to the policy process. The opinions expressed on this site are exclusively those of its members. DC Headquarters: Roosevelt Institution / 2100 M St NW Suite 610 / Washington, DC 20037 || (202) 833-1359