FUNDING OF DRUG COURTS ONLY HALF THE STATE BATTLE

Now that Oklahoma has increased the funding for the state's drug
court program this year, taxpayers should expect results from their investment.

A study by the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center early this
month concluded Oklahoma's drug court per capita funding now tops
that of 34 other states with similar programs. Drug court funding in
Oklahoma now stands at $11.5 million, triple the budget for last year.

Many for some time in the state have called for increased funding for
rehabilitation programs, as opposed to increased incarceration for
those convicted of crimes involving drug use. More than a year ago,
the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission proposed several recommendations
to the Legislature involving improved probation services,
intermediate sanctions for offenders on probation instead of
revocation and an expansion of substance abuse treatment programs.

The commission also reported in February 2004 that Oklahoma was
spending less than half the U.S. average rate per offender on
parole/probation supervision.

We are glad to see that problem fixed.

But we all know simply throwing money at a problem is only half the
solution. Money in governmental programs has a way of getting lost
and being misused and wasted. So now the state must utilize that
money effectively and give a strict accounting for it to legislators,
who should take an active role in checking up on these programs.

Taxpayers usually don't mind paying taxes if they know their money is
providing services and improving the quality of life. But if the
state can't show results, you can bet cries will be heard - even as
soon as the next legislative session - to stop pouring money down an
open drain.