Feds give $30 million to states to create special "drug courts"
Declan McCullagh
declan at well.com
Fri Jul 6 07:08:39 PDT 2001
Next up: "software piracy courts"
COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE RECEIVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FUNDS FOR DRUG COURTS
· Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 10:00:09 -0400
· Subject: COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE RECEIVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FUNDS
FOR DRUG COURTS
· From: "Biber, Kathryn"
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-AG
FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2001
(202) 616-2777
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE RECEIVE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
FUNDS FOR DRUG COURTS
WASHINGTON, DC - Attorney General John Ashcroft announced today,
$30.9 million to plan, establish, or improve drug courts for nonviolent
offenders with drug problems. Eighty-nine jurisdictions in 38 states and
territories will receive grants. (See attachment)
The announcement comes at the request of President Bush, who
pledged in May to increase funding to fight drug addiction through several
programs, including drug courts.
"Drug courts help communities by managing offenders' behavior and
breaking the cycle of drug addiction and crime," said Attorney General
Ashcroft. "Drug court judges are actively involved in holding
substance-abusing offenders accountable while helping to rehabilitate them
and reduce recidivism."
Fifty-five jurisdictions will receive grants ranging from $166,000
up to $500,000 to implement new drug courts. Twenty courts will receive
grants ranging from $31,222 up to $300,000 to enhance their existing
programs or to support statewide drug court activity. Another 14 tribal
jurisdictions will receive up to $30,000 to plan drug courts.
Since 1995, the Justice Department's Drug Courts Program Office
(DCPO) has made approximately 650 grants totaling more than $125
million. Nearly 700 drug courts are operating in the United States and
more than 430 are being planned. All 50 states have drug courts in
operation or in the planning stages. Thirty-two states have passed
legislation supporting drug courts and six more are introducing
legislation. The drug court concept has also expanded to juvenile and
family drug courts, DUI/DWI and tribal courts.
According to the Drug Court Clearinghouse at American
University, more than 73,000 adults and 1,500 teens have graduated from
drug court programs. Recidivism rates continue to drop for graduates, with
rates reported by drug courts ranging from 2 to 20 percent. Also, in
Portland, Oregon, it was found that for every $1 spent on a drug court,
$2.50 is saved in standard criminal justice system costs, and when
estimating broader cost savings, such as victimization and theft costs, $10
is saved.
In addition to awarding grant funding, DCPO provides training on
planning adult,
juvenile or family drug courts. In FY 2001, DCPO expanded its training
programs by nearly 300 percent to train more than 200 communities. From
1995 through 2000, 446 communities received planning support and have
completed the training programs. Of these communities, 76 percent have
implemented a drug court. DCPO expects to provide training to about 150
communities in FY 2002.
Drug court participants must take frequent drug tests and meet
regularly with their judges. Drug court judges monitor offenders'
treatment regimens and impose graduated sanctions, including incarceration,
on those who do not comply. Participants are expected to stay in treatment
and may be ordered to participate in educational, vocational or community
service activities. Offenders who graduate from drug court programs may
have their charges dismissed or sentences reduced.
About $50 million is available for drug courts in FY 2001. The
President has requested $50 million for drug courts in FY 2002.
More than 240 jurisdictions applied for funding this year: 129
were for first-time courts and 99 for enhancements. A list of grantees,
contacts and the award amounts is attached. In addition, summaries are
available describing how each grantee receiving an implementation or
enhancement grant will use the funds.
Additional information about the drug court program is available
on the Drug Court Program Office's Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/dcpo or by
calling the Drug Court Clearinghouse on 202/885-2875. The Clearinghouse's
Website is www.american.edu/justice.
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