EVIDENCE OF WORTH OF DRUG COURTS

One of the more difficult things for analysts -or newspapers - to pin down
is why people commit crimes.

In the state police's annual report on crimes reported in 2001, which was
released recently, the downward trend in most types of crime continues.

While the number of violent crimes in Kane County - like murders and sexual
assaults - rose almost 9 percent in Kane County between 2000 and 2001, the
overall crime rate dropped about 2.3 percent, with property crimes like
thefts and car burglaries dropping 3.6 percent.

While it is troubling that Kane's 2001 violent crime rate is higher - and
in most cases about double that of other collar counties - the drop in
property crimes is worth celebrating.

Perhaps when weighed against a rise in violent crime, we are happy enough
to live without figuring out why there is a drop in the lesser crimes.

However, St. Charles Police Chief Don Shaw says he has some insight as to
why the number of property crimes has diminished.

It's very simple. The police department and the court system have spent a
lot of time and energy focusing on what they say is a relatively small core
of people responsible for much of that crime: heroin addicts.

While it is difficult to determine just how much of the reduction in
property crimes is attributable to the efforts of police and the court
system, it can be argued that there has been some effect.

Through the Daily Herald's Hidden Scourge series earlier this year and
during a town hall meeting on the effects of illicit drugs on young people,
we heard from many recovering heroin addicts that they would do just about
anything to get money to score more drugs. Petty theft and robbery
certainly were popular ways to get quick cash.

Anecdotally, we know that once these kids are under the scrutiny of Kane's
special drug court, are in treatment and are being monitored, plenty are
staying clean and no longer need to steal to support their habits.

The crime statistics would appear to support that scenario.

Still, we see plenty of young people dying of heroin overdoses in the suburbs.

If anything, the number of kids still dying coupled with the dropping crime
numbers presents a troubling paradox.

It tells us we shouldn't be content that things are getting better fast
enough. And we should not rest on the early success of the drug court, ably
administered by Judge Jim Doyle.

If anything, we should look upon the drug court as a good start. Something
to build upon.