COLD TURKEY OPTION FOR NY JAIL-BIRDS

New York State has become the first in America to adopt the
"drug-court" program, a move expected to divert up to 10,000
drug-addicted criminals from prisons to rehabilitation each year.

The decision follows successful trials of a diversionary sentencing
program in New York's worst drug-crime districts.

The results of those trials drew international attention, and
encouraged the New South Wales Government to launch its own trial in
Parramatta last year.

The scheme is expected to reduce New York State's prison population by
more than 10 per cent and save up to $US500 million a year in jail
costs.

Chief Judge Judith Kaye, who has sweeping powers as head of the New
York State judiciary, said this week it would ease the burden on the
bulging prison system and reduce recidivism among addicts.

In the statewide program, judges will have to offer drug addicts who
are accused of non-violent crimes the option of undergoing supervised
rehabilitation as an alternative to jail.

In contrast to punitive mandatory sentencing, New York now leads a
liberal counter-offensive, in which social policy is used to intervene
in drug cases to break the well-documented vicious cycle of drug-abuse
and crime.

The drug trials returned remarkable results: 70 per cent of addicts
who completed the courses remained drug-free.

The rate of reoffence for those in the trials was 12 per cent,
compared with 35 per cent for those who were jailed. Addicts who enter
the statewide diversionary program will be required to plead guilty, a
move expected to significantly cut court time spent on long trials and
appeals.

Addicts will have to undergo two years' treatment in drug centres -
longer than they would probably spend in jail.

Their progress will be closely monitored. If they drop out of the
program or reoffend, they go straight to jail to serve sentences
longer than they would have originally received.