What is the history of drug courts?
The first jurisdiction to implement a drug court was New York City; it created the court in 1974 in response to the enforcement of the draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws, which overwhelmed the state’s criminal justice system with an unrelenting spate of drug cases throughout the 1970s (Belenko & Dumanovsky, 1993).
When did drug courts begin?
In 1989 the first Drug Court was launched in Miami, Florida. There are now over 2,900 Drug Courts nationwide. They are located in every U.S. state and thirteen countries. Drug Courts refer more people to treatment than any other system in America, annually serving over 145,000 seriously addicted people.
What is the purpose of drug courts?
As an alternative to incarceration, drug courts reduce the burden and costs of repeatedly processing low‐level, non‐violent offenders through the nation’s courts, jails, and prisons while providing offenders an opportunity to receive treatment and education.
Why was the Drug Court established?
It commenced operations in Sydney as a pilot program with the goal of establishing the question of whether a Drug Court is more effective and cost-effective in reducing crime among drug-dependent criminal offenders than the conventional sanctions.
How many Drug Courts are there?
There are more than 3,500 drug courts across the United States, about half of which are adult treatment drug courts.
How many people are in Drug Courts?
There are about 120,000 individuals treated annually in drug courts, which creates more than $1 billion in annual savings. Overall, it is estimated that the current adult drug court treatment program produces about $2.21 in benefit for every $1 in costs, for a net benefit to society of about $624 million.
How many drug courts are there?
What are the two approaches to drug court?
“There are generally two models for drug courts: deferred prosecution programs and post-adjudication programs. In a deferred prosecution or diversion setting, defendants who meet certain eligibility requirements are diverted into the drug court system prior to pleading to a charge.
What are the three types of drug courts?
Across the state, local agencies have developed adult, juvenile, and dependency drug courts, which generally fall into one of four models.
What are the two approaches to drug courts?
How does the Drug Court work?
The NSW Drug Court program is designed to give drug users the treatment and other resources they need to end their drug dependency. Studies show that intense supervision of offenders in the Drug Court program reduces both drug abuse and criminal behavior.
What happens in Drug Court?
The Drug Court in New South Wales attempts to address the issues underlying drug dependency which result in criminal offences being committed. It aims to promote re-integration into the community and to reduce criminal activity resulting from drug dependency.