DORGAN AMENDMENT STRENGTHENS DRUG COURT SYSTEM
October 19, 2007
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) won approval Thursday for an amendment that substantially increases funding for the nation’s drug courts, which he said get better results and cost less money than the traditional court system when it comes to fighting illegal drug use.
Dorgan’s amendment increases funding for the drug court system from the $25 million originally included in the bill to $40 million. President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2008 Budget recommended no funding for the courts.
North Dakota has seven drug courts, for adults and juveniles, in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and one tribal drug court, for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
“A top priority of any program that aims to combat drug abuse in this country has to be helping those now addicted to get free of that addiction,” Dorgan said. “The drug courts have a remarkable track record of doing that, providing treatment and rehabilitation where once there was only incarceration.”
Dorgan noted a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study which found that offenders who go through the drug court system, rather than the traditional court system, have lower re-arrest and conviction rates.
Drug courts are also a smart investment, Dorgan said. “They not only help drug users get off drugs, they save taxpayers’ money. Incarcerating a drug offender costs between $20,000 to $50,000 per year. It costs just $2,500 to $4,000 for a comprehensive drug court program. Better results at less cost. That’s a pretty good combination.”
North Dakota’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle was among those who welcomed news of the Senate’s action. “I am pleased to learn that Senator Dorgan was successful in his efforts to increase the appropriation for Drug Courts to $40 million in the Senate,” he said. “Drug Courts have been successful in North Dakota and this will assist us in the continuation and expansion of this worthwhile program.”
Under the drug court program, non-violent offenders, who plead guilty and who want to tackle their addiction problems undergo a rigorous monitoring and treatment program. It includes participation in intensive treatment programs, random drug tests, required attendance at AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings, regular meetings with a probation officer, and a strict at-home curfew.
Dorgan’s amendment was accepted by the Senate as part of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill now being considered on the Senate floor.
This press release was launched through the Senator’s website, which may be accessed at http://dorgan.senate.gov.
Senate Restores Drug Court Funding to $40 Million
October 5, 2007
Key Amendment to Senate CJS Appropriations Bill Matches
House-Approved Historical Mark
Washington, D.C. – The Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill for FY2008 came to the Senate floor today, and with the unanimous passage of an amendment first proposed by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the drug court funding levels were returned to the historical average $40 million mark for the first time since 2005. Though the House of Representatives had passed the spending measure at the $40 million mark, the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved only $25 million for the Department of Justice (DOJ) Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program prior to Senator Dorgan’s amendment proposal.
“This is a great day for drug courts.” said NADCP Chief Executive Officer West Huddleston. “Today, Congress secured a second chance for hundreds of thousands of citizens caught in the cycle of addiction and crime, giving them and their families tremendous hope. This critical investment in drug courts will yield innumerable returns for thousands of communities across this nation such as improved public safety and civility by reducing drug dependence and associated crime one life at a time.”
Though historically receiving an average $40 million appropriation through the DOJ discretionary grant program, drug court funding suffered deep cuts in FY2006, falling 75% to $10 million, which was carried over in the Continuing Resolution for FY2007.
“We are deeply grateful to Senator Barbara Mikulski, Chairwoman of the CJS Appropriation Subcommittee, and Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Member of the CJS Appropriation Subcommittee, for working with Senators Biden, Dorgan, Hagel, Levin, Reed, and Stabenow to include $40 million in the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice Science Appropriations bill for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program,” added Mr. Huddleston. “This incredible achievement could not have happened without the strong support of the over 34 Members of the Senate who signed a letter in support of $40 million for the program earlier this year. Those Senators include Senator Harkin and Senator Durbin both members of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee. Drug court judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers, administrators, probation agents and law enforcement officers throughout the nation joined forces with NADCP and worked tirelessly over the past nine months to demonstrate the necessity of restoring drug court funding. The Senate and the House listened and responded with overwhelming support.”
Ending the revolving door
October 3, 2007
IT MAKES little sense to keep putting someone in jail for drug crimes and the like, if their root problem is not a bent toward criminality, but a mental health issue.
The newly formed Chatham-Savannah Mental Health Court recognizes an important fact: Directing repeat offenders who may be helped by treatment to a care facility instead of a jail cell is a better deal not only for the offender, but also for taxpayers.
It’s a better deal for the offender because, even though the conditions of their probation are stringent, the program is geared toward helping the person maintain a healthy, productive lifestyle, and avoid future run-ins with the law.
For taxpayers, a major benefit is that the nonviolent offenders screened for eligibility in the program are more likely to be providing their own food and housing, working and paying taxes. In short, pulling their own weight. That’s a big contrast to the expense of providing mental health care in a prison setting.
A second major benefit for citizens in general is that if this fledgling program - modeled after other successful “therapeutic courts” in Chatham County such as drug and DUI courts - can make a real difference in the lives of the repeat offenders it hopes to help, then all those who might have been future victims will be spared the trouble.
What’s more, keeping nonviolent defendants from serving potentially long prison sentences for repeat offenses will mean less strain on an already overcrowded prison system.
The program is made possible through the cooperation of a team of prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers, law enforcement officers and treatment facilities, all working under the direction of Superior Court Judge Penny Haas Freesemann.
The mental health court calls on defendants to undergo a five-step plan, aimed at helping them understand their mental illness and begin a recovery plan, conduct a thorough self-evaluation, implement coping tools, and strengthen their commitment to sobriety and integration into the community.
The hope is that those in the program will be able to step out of the revolving door of mental health episodes, followed by run-ins with the law, followed by little or no support once they are released from incarceration.
Judge Freesemann’s mental health court, which began Sept. 20, is operating on a shoestring budget from a federal grant. But if the court fulfills its purpose of cutting down on recidivism, then local and state governments should also consider helping to fund the court operations and treatment services needed to help the program grow and be successful.
It will be an investment not only toward improved mental health for the participants, but also toward improved peace of mind for community members who might otherwise have been crime victims.
The program is geared toward helping the person maintain a healthy, productive lifestyle, and avoid future run-ins with the law.
BY ALAN RIQUELMY
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While many courtrooms can be said to have a revolving door, organizers of the Muscogee County Drug Court hope that stops being the case for some in Columbus.
Today is the first session of Drug Court — an alternative to the prosecution, sentencing and prison time many defendants face in Muscogee County Superior Court. It’s different from a typical criminal court because those who plead guilty don’t go to prison — they go through treatment while out of jail.
And if they successfully complete the program, their convictions can be wiped clean.
“They call it ‘the courtroom drama,’ ” Judge Frank Jordan Jr. said of the weekly court procedures. “The participants all come and see who’s failing and who’s complying. That is a key thing — coming to court and either being praised or sanctioned by the judge.”
Muscogee County already has other “accountability courts” such as the Environmental, Mental Health and Juvenile Drug Court, but this is the first adult Drug Court for Columbus.
It starts with a referral to Larry Love, the Drug Court’s coordinator. He examines potential candidates for the court and sends them to Assistant District Attorney David Helmick, who is the program’s gatekeeper for the district attorney’s office, Jordan said.
If the district attorney thinks someone is a good candidate — a first or second drug offense that isn’t violent or related to trafficking or gangs — that person has the option to enter Drug Court.
Those who want to enter Drug Court sign a contract and pledge to remain drug-free. They also agree to attend a series of drug treatment classes and 12-step meetings over several months.
And, of course, the weekly Drug Court sessions.
“For example, someone signs the contract and enters Drug Court,” Jordan said. “Since then, he’s remained drug-free, attended all the meetings and he’s in compliance. If that’s the case, he gets a round of applause, or the judge comes down and shakes his hand. There’s some reward — positive reinforcement.”
Those who aren’t in compliance, the ones who fail a drug test or miss meetings, are punished. They may have to spend a weekend in jail or sit in court all day.
Drug Court is paid for by the participants. Attendees pay $500 over the first six weeks in administrative costs and $700 over six months for the Rediscovery Outpatient Substance Abuse Clinic.
Participants start out with two two-hour treatment classes and four one-hour 12-step meetings a week. As they progress through the program, participants’ classes and meetings become fewer and the payments become smaller.
The last six months of the program are less rigorous than the first, and the successful completion of Drug Court means the county has one less drug user.
Jordan said the court saves taxpayers the cost of prosecution and supervisory probation. The families of drug users will see that addicts are improving their lives.
“Those are the intangible but real effects that are hard to quantify and measure,” the judge said.
Jordan isn’t sure how many people will go through Drug Court. He said other courts have advised him and his team to take it slow.
Macon has about 150 people in its Drug Court, Jordan said. Glynn County has 270.
While the first session of Drug Court is scheduled for today, regular sessions will be held 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
