Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz is skeptical about a new jail diversion program.
District Attorney Christian Gossett will bring a number of programs to the County Administration Building to help low-level offenders. Those offenders could avoid prosecution, by participating.
Matz believes the DA is putting too much faith in addicts. He says rehabilitation is simpler than going from office to office, because people have freedom to choose.
Matz says the Sheriff’s Department created a similar initiative, with “day reporting,” earlier this decade. It came to an end, after only five or six people took part.
