Prison alternatives an option for key legislator

A key legislator says he’s willing to consider alternatives to prison for convicts who aren’t that dangerous. Senator Andy McKean’s comments come after the director of Iowa prisons says it’s time to build a new state prison if sentencing laws aren’t changed.McKean is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee who pushed for some sentencing reforms this past year. He says if we need more space for dangerous people, he’s all for it. Iowa Corrections Department director Kip Kautzky says there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of inmates convicted of drug crimes and it’s time to consider sending convicted drug USERS to substance abuse to get ’em clean rather than sending ’em to prison.