CUTTING DRUG COURTS WILL PROVE EXPENSIVE

Norfolk and Portsmouth should do everything possible to maintain their drug
courts, despite an end to state funding for the program. Virginia Beach is
making a mistake in dropping its drug court. Regrettably, plans by Suffolk
and Chesapeake to start drug courts have been set back.

State statistics show that drug court programs slash recidivism rates from
the traditional 50 percent down to 3 to 7 percent. That is a tremendous
decrease. The reduction is possible because drug court participants are in
the program an entire year, with frequent checks for drug use. Also, the
alternative to going clean is time in jail or prison, so participants are
motivated. The program includes counseling and other necessary help.

The price tag for jail and prison ranges from $19,000 to $40,000 a year per
person, compared with drug court costs of around $3,000 to $5,000. The
difference is huge.

Also, drug abusers commit many crimes to gain money for drugs, and
criminals desperate for a hit are extraordinarily dangerous. Staying
straight, then, helps reduce crimes in communities.

The state provided $2.6 million this year for drug courts, but drug court
money for next year was returned to the general fund. Theoretically, the
drug courts could still get some or all of it, but many agencies will be
competing for the money. The outlook is dim.

Fortunately, Portsmouth received a two-year, $499,000 federal grant last
October. It was intended to greatly expand the program from its current 28
participants. The expansion may be smaller.

Norfolk will fall back on labor donated by various city agencies. Fewer
people in the program is likely. As of December, 72 people had graduated
from the program, which started in 1998.

Virginia Beach has had the program only in General District Court and only
for drunken drivers. It had hoped to expand the program to circuit and
juvenile courts and to include drug offenders. Instead, it probably will
drop the DUI program. One wonders, will lives be lost to drunken drivers
because the program was scrapped?

Once again, the state has proved to be an unreliable partner for
localities. On the upside, the state has plenty of room in its prisons. On
the downside, keeping people there is very expensive.

And many people in desperate need of help fighting drug addiction won't get it.