South Dakota legislators have spent quite a bit of time this session debating crime and punishment.

Senator Art Rusch of Vermillion introduced several bills with emphasis on treatment rather than stiffer penalties..

Rusch says if legislators don’t change course, they will face an expensive alternative….

Rusch says when he has toured the states prisons he sees a number of old prisoners that don’t pose much of a threat…

Rusch spoke at the District 17 legislative forum Saturday in Vermillion.