National Association of Drug Court Professionals News
Justice Professionals, Community Leaders, and Celebrities Call Upon All Americans to End Substance Abuse-Related Crime by Taking Drug Courts to Scale
New Study Calls for Massive Expansion of Drug Courts Nationwide
Drug Courts hold nonviolent drug offenders accountable for their actions and offer effective treatment services under the close supervision of a specially trained judge and court team. According to a new study conducted by The Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center, "To Treat or Not to Treat: Evidence on the Prospects of Expanding Treatment to Drug-Involved Offenders," findings show that:
— $515 million dollars (of which only a fraction is federal) is spent annually on 55,000 Drug Court participants, yielding a substantial reduction in crime and more than $1 billion dollars in annual cost savings; — There are 1.47 million arrestees who are legally and clinically eligible for Drug Court; — Treating all eligible arrestees would cost $13.7 billion and return benefits of about $46 billion. The study finds this approach would save taxpayers $3.36 for every dollar invested.
"For a decade, the research on Drug Courts, spanning more than 100 program evaluations and at least five scientifically rigorous meta-analyses, has yielded definitive proof that Drug Courts significantly reduce crime and substance abuse, and produce greater cost-benefits than any other justice strategy. This incredible Urban Institute report ends the debate and provides the definitive rationale for putting Drug Courts, the most effective solution to drugs and crime, into every community in the U.S. and addressing the majority of addicted offenders who are driving crime and prison rates through the roof in America," said NADCP Chief Executive Officer West Huddleston. "These nonviolent individuals can be safely and effectively managed in the community with the intense degree of treatment and supervision Drug Courts bring to bear. With prison overpopulation and severe budget deficits plaguing local and state correctional systems, expanding Drug Courts in a massive way is the only sensible thing to do. Drug Courts have literally been the passport to recovery and transformation for a million addicted offenders over the past 19 years. Now is the time to give that opportunity for recovery to 1.47 million people every year," said
National Drug Court Conference Highlights:
Now in its 14th year, the NADCP Annual Drug Court Training Conference will convene over 3,000 judges, prosecutors, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, probation and parole officers, and other justice professionals and community leaders from across
"This year's theme captures the essence of the life-saving work we do" said NADCP Board Chair Judge
The Opening Plenary Session on
During the Awards Luncheon on
On
Finally, on
Members of the press may register to attend the 14th Annual NADCP Drug Court Training Conference by contacting
About NADCP
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) are responsible for advocacy, training, research, and scholarship on behalf of Drug Courts nationwide. With more than 2,100 Drug Courts in the U.S. and 500 more in planning stages, Drug Courts have experienced phenomenal success and tremendous growth by reducing substance abuse, crime, and recidivism. Since 1994, NADCP has represented over 22,000 judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers and rehabilitation experts, law enforcement and corrections personnel, educators, researchers, and community leaders. For more information, visit www.nadcp.org.
SOURCE National Association of Drug Court Professionals
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