The budget reduces funding for the Corrections Opportunity for Recovery and Education (CORE) program by $92,000, from $220,000 to $128,000. The CORE program, which emphasizes treatment rather than incarceration for prisoners with drug dependency problems, is modeled on a similar program in Sullivan County that has reduced the recidivism rate there from 65 percent to 17 percent. Tilton maintained that it was important to fund the CORE program at a reasonable level, given the level of concern about the opioid crisis. Norm Silber (R-Gilford), Rep. Peter Spanos (R-Laconia), Rep, Michael Sylvia (R-Belmont), R, Rep. Peter Varney (R-Alton), Rep. Ray Howard (R-Alton), Rep. Herb Vadney (R-Meredith), Rep. Marc Abear (R-Meredith), Rep. Barbara Comtois (R-Barnstead), Rep. Glen Aldrich (R-Gilford) and Rep. Joe Plumer (R-Belmont). He also said it was prudent to see how the CORE program performs.

Source: Daily Sun March 21, 2018 04:30 UTC