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National Drug Court Month is coordinated on a national level by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and locally through Drug-Free Delta County. This year's theme is "Drug Courts: Where Accountability Meets Compassion." Delta County's drug courts represent a proven budget solution for our area. Through the efforts of Judge Sandra Miller, Judge Charles Greenacre, the Child Protection Unit, tireless staff and board, and countless volunteers, our drug courts are truly making a difference, from reducing drug use and recidivism, to reuniting families and making our community safer. We invite the community to come and see for yourselves the tremendous impact Delta County Drug Courts have had on our community.
Like the other 2,600 operational drug courts in the United States, Delta County's drug courts are a judicially-supervised court docket that reduces correctional costs, protects community safety, and improves public welfare. In Drug Courts, seriously drug-addicted individuals remain in treatment for long periods of time while under close supervision. Drug Court participants must meet their obligation to themselves, their families, and society. To ensure accountability, they are regularly and randomly tested for drug use, attend weekly therapeutic sessions, appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations. Research continues to show that drug courts work better than jail, prison or general probation.
According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals' CEO, West Huddleston, "Drug courts are this nation's most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug addicted, nonviolent offenders with criminal histories." Nationally, 75 percent of individuals who complete drug court are not re-arrested; in Delta County that figure is an impressive 87 percent. Drug courts save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve and return as much as $27 for every $1 invested.
This May, drug courts throughout the country are demonstrating that a combination of accountability and compassion should be the foundation upon which our criminal justice system handles drug addicted individuals. By treating our chronically addicted offenders, we can save vast amounts of money, protect public safety and reduce drug abuse in our community.
For more information on Delta County's drug courts and Drug-Free Delta County, contact Lisa Tullio or Pam Bliss at 399-2953.
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