Last week, drug court professionals gathered in Nashville for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals 18th Annual Training Conference. Many states have recently announced their expansion plans for drug courts recognizing the impact and effectiveness of drug courts, while other states, such as Kentucky, are struggling with the value versus the costs of specialty courts.
Also last week, Kentucky’s General Assembly announced it would cut $25 million from the judicial branch for the next fiscal year according to WPSD Local 6 News, a NBC affiliate. A large portion of the cuts are geared toward drug courts. The cuts will reduce the number of participants by 33%.
The very next day, an article appeared in The Morehead News discussing the effectiveness of Kentucky drug courts from the perspective of a Kentucky Supreme Court Justice, whose family has struggled with the addiction of his son. Justice William Scott described how the treatment options and drug court involvement are what saved his son, who later earned a four-year degree and is now a counselor.
While the drug courts have been proven to be the most cost efficient option in comparison to other drug rehabilitation programs, the Kentucky General Assembly chose to cut the budget. Though it may save the state money initially, would it really save money in the long run?
According to NADCP, studies have concluded the long-term outcomes show that drug courts reduce crime as much by as 45%. Nationally, for every $1 invested in drug courts, taxpayers actually save taxpayers $3.36 in avoided criminal justice costs. If only all of our investments today had such strong returns.
So the question remains: did Kentucky really save money by cutting budget dollars to drug courts?
As of June 30, 2009, 42% of Kentucky’s inmates were incarcerated for nonviolent property and drug crimes, according to a report issued by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.
If only two-thirds of those who initially needed help get help, what happens to the other third? Do they offend again, maybe next time killing someone while driving drunk? Or do they end up in overcrowded prisons where it costs Kentucky taxpayers an average of $40 per day, per prisoner? In the long run, is Kentucky really saving money or taking an uncalculated risk that may not pay off?
I run a drug court and my program was capped in response. I have 10 people on a waiting list–asking for a chance to change their lives. I fully understand that we are not winning the “War on Drugs”–but do we really think it is cost effective to start shutting down the “battlefields”!
Close these drug courts they not really working. It really has most people held back for a time. Its benefitting the courts more than the people. My friend recently got kicked out due to lack of payments but have been sober for the entire year. Read between the lines.