ANOTHER WAY

Can't Build Enough Jails, So Give Drug Treatment A Chance

Whether methods employed by American law enforcement officials and the
criminal justice system -- zero tolerance and harsh mandatory prison
sentences -- are the most effective and appropriate ways of dealing with
this country's massive drug crime problems is food for serious debate.

At least two components of the issue, however, are entirely clear -- the
drug problem has exploded the nation's prison population, and there will
never be enough jail space to hold the seemingly unlimited supply of
drug-related criminals, many of whom are addicts.

Now, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the country's drug policy director, has proposed
incorporating drug testing and treatment into the criminal justice process,
from arrest to release from prison. That makes sense.

Studies show that 60 percent or more of those in jail are there because of
serious drug or alcohol problems, often directly related to their criminal
activity. Because almost no inmates get any form drug treatment during
incarceration, as many as 80 percent commit new crimes post-release.

According to various studies: America spent around $5 billion for prisons
and jails 20 years ago. In 1997, prison and jail costs ran taxpayers $31
billion. Last year, to lock up 1 million nonviolent offenders, states spent
$24 billion. More than 1,000 new prisons have been built since the 1970s,
and the number of drug offenders jailed since then has tripled. Some states
spend more on lockups than on universities.

Judges often want to sentence first-time drug offenders to probation with
drug treatment as condition of the sentence. But there is so little
treatment available that many offenders are sent away with little more than
court orders to show up for periodic drug tests. The situation is hardly
better for those sentenced to jail time.

Some argue that drug treatment does not work until the addict is ready to
change. Surely, then, there ought to be programs available at least for
those who are willing to make the attempt.