Drug courts are specialized courts that seek to keep people out of the criminal justice system. Rather than focusing on punitive measures like prison time, they instead focus on rehabilitation and prevention. Despite such courts coming under fire from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inspector General, the DOJ’s acting Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance defended them before a House Panel this week.
According to this article from Main Justice, James Burch II stated these courts offer effective and sustainable alternative approaches to the typical criminal process. He stated they don’t only save money when compared with incarceration but actually improve recidivism rates.
The article states that about 50% of those people released from prison will reoffend within three years. And that the majority of these law offenses are drug related. Drug courts assist offenders with maintaining a lifestyle outside of the drug world, working on addiction, employment, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to name a few.
The Inspector General’s office issued a report last week that criticized the agency in its lack of follow up on grant money doled out for drug courts. The IG stated there was little documentation and no effective system detailing the effectiveness of the courts themselves.
Burch claimed the report was in response to older drug court programs and not the newest one he is promoting, known as the Second Chance Act. While he may have a point, he should also know that when it comes time to pass out federal dollars, you have to have documentation on where it’s going and the research to back its direction.
Drug courts aren’t only at the federal level—they can be found in many states. Like DUI courts, drug courts are specialty courts designed to cater to one particular type of criminal charge. The cases heard in a drug court aren’t handled in the same manner as the exact same case would be held in a Superior court, for instance.
In a drug court, community resources and agencies come together to cooperatively assist people accused of committing a drug crime or an offense influenced by drug use and abuse. When your case is handled in a drug court, you are far more likely to be sentenced to intense treatment than jail.
Another characteristic of drug court cases is frequent meetings with the judge. In these cases the court is very interested in your progress and very willing to send you through the “typical” system if you don’t respond to treatment and alternative sanctions well.
The benefits of a drug court are many. You’re less likely to go to prison and are more likely to stay out of trouble once the case is over.
If you’re facing charges related to a drug crime and are interested in drug courts in your area, we have attorneys that may be able to help.
About David Matson