DRUG COURTS DESERVE SUPPORT

Nashville Drug Court received $655,000 in one-time funding from the
legislature this year, a fact that struck some lawmakers from other
communities with similar programs as unfair.

They may be right that other programs are also deserving. But instead of
singling out what is the best known drug court in the state, the
legislature should be looking at the long-range needs of all the 50 drug
courts established across Tennessee.

Judge Seth Norman requested the special funding, warning that the acclaimed
program might have to shut its doors in three months unless the state
acted. He promised to get further federal funding to keep the court open
after that. Federal funds helped create many of the drug courts in the
state. The federal government was quick to recognize the importance of
steering addicts away from prison and away from their dependence on drugs.
Norman has estimated that his court has saved some $15 million in prison
costs in the seven years of its existence.

Most of the drug courts have been created from state courts. If they need
help, the state should be helping out more, not depending on the federal
government to pick up the slack when needed.

Nashville's program has gained national recognition. The court was cited in
the National Drug Control Strategy report in March as a national model.
Lawmakers who think the program is a soft approach to crime can think
again. Idleness isn't permitted for those who enter the residential
treatment program. They have to work their recovery program and work at a
job so they'll have an alternative to drugs once they get out. About 35%
who enter the program eventually drop out, but among those who stay, the
program offers one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country. The
General Assembly was right to reward the drug court for this one-time
emergency funding. But all drug courts that provide a reasonable
alternative to prison deserve the state's attention. Nashville's program
shouldn't be the exception; it should be the rule.