The House bill emphasizes rehabilitation of offenders, while the Senate bill envisions harsher penalties, including dismissal of workers who test positive.

Advocates say it would deter crime by emphasizing punishment, instead of rehabilitation, which they say has failed.

Faith-based programs emphasize treatment, education, rehabilitation and reintegration into society, rather than incarceration.

In 1989 new legislation, which emphasized rehabilitation rather than punishment, was being drafted to "humanized" the special system.

Upshaw said he favored a program that emphasized education and rehabilitation.

State officials and criminologists are debating the operations of an unusual Maryland prison that emphasizes rehabilitation over retribution.

"Federation justice emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment."

A major revision of the public welfare laws was carried out, with a $300 million modernisation which emphasised rehabilitation instead of relief".

The juvenile justice system must begin to emphasize punishment as well as rehabilitation," he said.

That approach relied heavily on law enforcement instead of emphasizing rehabilitation and prevention.