CHARLESTON — Years of use and scientific study show drug courts in the U.S. effectively reduce drug abuse and crime, as well as save money.
Simply stated, drug courts work. That according to Lora Maynard, deputy director for drug courts with the Division of Probation Services at the Supreme Court of Appeals in West Virginia.
“The scientific community has put drug courts under a microscope and concluded that drug courts work -- better than jail or prison; better than probation and treatment alone,” Maynard told The West Virginia Record. “Studies show that the more serious an individual’s drug addiction, and the longer his or her criminal record, the better drug courts work.”
May is National Drug Court Month — a designation intended to recognize the work and success of drug courts across the country. West Virginia counties have various events planned. The Putnam County Adult Drug Court and Recovery Point organized a kickball tournament, which also included a drug take-back event.
Nationally, 3,000 courts treat close to 150,000 substance-addicted people each year. It’s estimated that drug courts save about $13,000 for every person they serve. West Virginia has more than 27 adult drug court programs serving 45 counties and 15 juvenile drug court programs serving 20 counties. Maynard said it reduces costs by keeping people from being incarcerated.
“These drug courts opened their doors with a simple premise: rather than continue to allow individuals with long histories of drug abuse and crime to cycle through the criminal justice system at great expense to the public, use the leverage of the court to keep them engaged in drug treatment long enough to be successful,” Maynard said. “Today, drug courts have proven that a combination of accountability and compassion cannot only save lives, but save valuable resources and reduce exorbitant criminal justice costs.”
Drug courts are also considered more effective because people are more compliant when they’re held accountable and supervised regularly by a judge, giving them a leg-up over community-based programs, Maynard said
To be eligible for drug court, a person has to demonstrate a high risk of recidivism and a high need for treatment during the intake and evaluation process. Each person is diagnosed as having a substance-abuse disorder, Maynard said. People who have committed violent crimes, sex offenses or an offense against a child aren't eligible for the program.
“Typically, drug dealers are denied admission unless the team believes they are dealing to support their own habit,” Maynard said. “For juveniles, the criteria are nearly the same, but the focus is more on early intervention and preventing drug abuse from becoming a full-blown addiction.”
The program is designed to take 12 months, but it takes about 16 months, on average. It includes “evidence -based programming” and therapy on an individual and group basis.
As of April, 869 participants had graduated from adult drug courts in West Virginia — a graduation rate of 40 percent. In juvenile courts, 494 participants have graduated — a rate of 51 percent.