Drug Treatment Courts

The work of Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) was highlighted at the recent Commission onNarcotic Drugs in Vienna, where an international panel of judges and treatment professionals showcased the results of these courts.

Since their introduction in the United States in 1989 Drug Treatment Courts have seen tremendous growth throughout the world. There are currently around 1,600 drug courts in the United States and the use of DTCs is growing in Europe, Canada, South America, the Caribbean and Australasia.

A Drug Treatment Court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving substance-abusing offenders. Eligible participants undergo treatment and rehabilitation programmes instead of facing the traditional prosecution process and possible imprisonment. Compliance is monitored by frequent substance-abuse testing, and non-compliance sanctioned.

“In 1999 the UN pulled together a group of experts from around the world, and we came up with 12 key principles which essentially set out the key components of any DTC,” said the Chairman of the International Association of Drug Treatment Courts, Canadian Judge Paul Bentley. He added: “So although the courts in Australia may be somewhat different from those in Canada, they all operate on these 12 key principles that guide the courts around the world.”

According to figures from North America, DTCs also provide a more cost-effective method of dealing with drug-using offenders than either probation or prison. Incarceration costs between US$ 20,000-50,000 a year. In contrast, a comprehensive drug court system typically costs between US$ 2,500 and US$ 4,000 annually for each offender. Furthermore, evaluations consistently show that Drug Treatment Courts effectively reduce recidivism.

Karen Freeman Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of the United States National Association of Drug Court Professionals said: “Not only are the cost savings found in the judicial arena, but you find another body of tax-paying citizens who traditionally would not be paying taxes. If you’re using drugs you can’t hold down a job, you can’t contribute to society.”

DTCs are sometimes criticized as being “soft on crime”, however, Judge Paul Bentley said for many people it is more difficult to spend a year on a treatment programme than a year in jail. “When people come into the programme, we give them 30 days to change their mind and some do. They say,—‘you know it’s too difficult to come to court twice a week, to go to treatment four-five times a week. I’d rather do my time, just sentence me judge,’” said Mr Bentley.