The governor said last month that he wanted to make drug treatment mandatory for nonviolent offenders. He says the approach would free up jail space for more serious criminals and give nonviolent offenders a second chance.
Drug courts offer low-level offenders the option of entering drug treatment after pleading guilty to charges rather than going to jail. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals says no state in the country currently requires offenders to enter treatment.
Christie also proposed a constitutional amendment giving judges the discretion to keep violent offenders detained while they await trial on new charges.
He's due at the Rescue Mission of Trenton on Tuesday morning.
