MORE FUNDING NEEDED FOR STATE'S DRUG COURTS

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo's report to a presidential commission cited alarming
statistics on methamphetamine use in Hawaii (The Maui News, Oct. 13). The
judiciary has taken effective measures toward reducing recidivism to crime
with the implementation of drug courts that divert felony drug offenders
from incarceration into intense court-supervised drug treatment requiring
daily drug testing and counseling monitored by the judge for up to 18
months.

Judges use intermediate jail sanctions for program noncompliance and provide
incentives for clients upon their success throughout the program. Offenders'
criminal charges are dismissed upon successful completion. With a 14 percent
recidivism rate on a national average, drug courts have proven to be the
most successful way to treat drug offenders.

County funding has enabled the Maui Drug Court to be the only drug court in
Hawaii to implement an early-release program for sentenced offenders to
re-enter the community before parole eligibility under the supervision of
the Drug Court judge.

Funding is needed for the expansion of such diversion and reintegration
programs with the state's Drug Court and prison system. Every dollar spent
on drug courts saves $10 required for incarceration.

Jon Kinimaka

Lahaina