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Published byKory Franklin Modified over 9 years ago
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Drug Court ♦The alternative to incarceration History How and why the experiment evolved Main Features of Drug Court Cooperation within the adversarial system Results Providing help and lowering recidivism Answering any questions
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History ♦Treatment court began in the early 1990s. ♦Drug court was a grass roots movement. ♦Now drug court is supported by local/federal governments. ♦The goal is to break the cycle of crime and addiction.
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The Overwhelmed Criminal Justice System ♦Drug laws expanded. ♦Penalties increased mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses. ♦1000% increase in the number of inmates over the past 30 years.
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The War on Drugs ♦In 1970, when the drug war began, arrests for drug offenses were 8% of the total. ♦By the end of the 1990s, the percentage of drug arrests were 64%. 19701990
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The Facts ♦Statistics Maintaining each prisoner costs approximately $30,000 / yr. 2/3 of arrested adults and more than ½ of juveniles test positive for at least one illicit drug. NY state spends over $200 million annually to incarcerate drug offenders. ♦Results 3 of each 10 prisoners released in 1998 from 15 states were rearrested 2/3 were rearrested in 3 years 95% were found to have relapsed in substance abuse within 3 years.
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Main Features of Drug Court ♦Dramatic intervention from by a team of legal and clinical professionals. ♦Client participation in treatment is exchanged for a reduced sentence or dismissal of charges. ♦An agreement is created to outline the rules of participation.
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Success Spread Very Rapidly In 1989 the first Drug Court was founded in Miami, Florida.
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Treatment Is An Intense Regimen ♦Treatment ♦Individualized case management ♦Supervised drug testing ♦Regular appearances before the judge ♦Professional review of participants’ cases before each court date
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Eligibility ♦Legal eligibility is determined through negotiation between the defense, the prosecutor and the court. ♦Clinical eligibility is determined by treatment professionals who screen to determine the appropriate level of care.
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Participation is Voluntary ♦The decision to enter treatment court is made by each client in consultation with their attorney. ♦Those who decline are free to litigate their cases.
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Completing Treatment ♦Abstinence from substances. ♦Enrollment in employment, education or training program. ♦Participant under court supervision for a specified period of time.
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Essential Features of Drug Courts ♦Non adversarial Shared goal is successful recovery of clients. ♦Early identification of participants ♦Continuum of services ♦Regular drug testing
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Coordinated Strategy ♦Meetings of the treatment court team before interactions with participants. ♦Sanctions and Incentives Given publicly by the court in response to clients’ progress.
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Drug Court as Classroom and Theatre ♦Rewards Phase advancements Certificates Coupons Applause ♦Graduated Sanctions Essays Court observance Intensified treatment Remand to prison
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Judicial Interaction ♦Interaction with the judge is essential Graduates point to their interaction with judges as vital Participants remain in the courtroom until the session is completed
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Decision to Enter Treatment is Voluntary ♦Court supervision dramatically increases retention rates. ♦Past 90 days, treatment outcomes improve in direct relationship to length of time in the program. Voluntary Admission
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Treatment Court Success ♦350,000 clients have participated Clients have a program retention rate of 67-71% Statistics demonstrate reductions in recidivism over 40%
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Lowering Recidivism ♦In New York City at least 45% of non-participants will recidivate with a similar offense within 2-3 years. ♦Recidivism for N.Y. Drug Court participants in 5-25%. ♦Recidivism for graduates is between 4-8%.
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The Cost Benefit ♦Savings estimates New York: $254 million California: $43 million Washington state: $6,700 / client Oregon: $10 save for every dollar spent
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Other Benefits ♦3,000 drug free babies are born to participants ♦80% of treated juvenile participants have returned to or remained in school ♦Thousands of mentally ill receive proper medication ♦Job training ♦Reuniting of families
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Expanding drug court ♦Drug courts have had tremendous success in American metropolitan areas ♦The model is now being applied to: Juveniles Drug abusing parents at risk of losing custody of children Drunk drivers Mentally ill Released prisoners
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Treatment courts globally ♦Canada ♦Ireland ♦Scotland ♦Australia ♦Brazil ♦Puerto Rico ♦Jamaica ♦Virgin Islands
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Courts are being planned in many Latin American and European Countries We are ready to help in anyway possible.
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