TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' top law enforcement official says boosting spending on services for the mentally ill and treating substance abuse is crucial to reforming the state's criminal justice system.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt contends extra funding for such services, particularly in rural communities, will deal with underlying problems fueling many offenders' crimes. He said without such services, local officials frequently face a bad choice of locking up someone who'd benefit more from treatment or leaving that person in the community to cause more harm.

But Schmidt, a Republican, bel...