Sessions of the Potter County DUI Court and Drug Treatment
Court were held this past week.
It's hard to measure the true positive impact
-- such as the difference between a substance abuser whose behavior affects his
family and society in general, versus a sober adult behaving responsibly,
working and supporting his family.
All signs suggest these award-winning court
systems are working (both financially and in lives turned around or even
saved). Diverting some of those with alcohol and/or drug problems to this
intensive-supervision court has prevented almost 6,000 "jail days"
and counting. Savings for that alone are in the ballpark of $250,000.
Studies
show that 80 percent of defendants with addiction or behavioral disorders who
go through the traditional criminal justice system end up back in jail,
compared to just over 20 percent of those whose cases are handled through
specialty courts.
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