BROADER ACCESS TO DRUG COURT WELCOME

The state Supreme Court made both a sensible and morally sound
decision last week when it ruled that the state's drug-treatment
program for nonviolent offenders ought to be open to those with prior
convictions. In the past, some prosecutors and judges have ruled that
the program is available only to first-time offenders.

The prohibition made little sense since the program is not that old
and therefore was not available to many nonviolent offenders the
first time they were arrested. It only stands to reason that a
person with a drug habit is likely sooner or later to break the law
again if he doesn't get help; to prohibit a drug user from accessing
treatment simply because he came into the system too early or was
arrested too often to qualify for it is unreasonable, especially
since the court-run program is both effective and inexpensive.

Under the drug-court program, offenders are given probation only
after they complete a six-month inpatient treatment program. They are
monitored closely and tested often. Of the 885 offenders who have
completed treatment and probation since the program began, only 14
percent have been re-arrested within three years, compared to a
national recidivism rate of 67.5 percent.

Treatment also costs about half of what imprisonment does: $17,266 to
treat a drug addict compared to more than $34,000 to imprison him.

Drug court represents one of the most heartening developments in
criminal justice in a long time. It is truly groundbreaking to think
that through the intervention of caring counselors, judges and
prosecutors, not only can crime be averted, but a person's life can be changed.

It only stands to reason that the option ought to be available to as
many offenders as judges believe can benefit from it. They, and we,
deserve that much.