"All Rise!": A Better Way of Justice Is Now In Session

Walk into any courtroom in America and you will hear two words that bring everyone to attention. As the judge takes the bench and the court officer loudly proclaims, "all rise," the courtroom quiets down and all stand focused on our system of justice.

But this command -- "all rise" -- carries with it an implicit and solemn promise: the promise that our judicial system will raise the quality of life for the people coming before it and for our community. For the many addicted individuals who appear before the courts each year, this includes the promise that they will receive the treatment and other tools they need to change their lives. Because we know that whenever one person rises out of addiction and crime, we all rise as a community. When the intergenerational cycle of drug addiction in a family is broken and healing begins, we all rise. When a child is reunited with clean and sober parents, we all rise. Whether the charge is driving while impaired, theft, burglary or any number of other addiction-driven offenses, we all rise when a Drug Court guides the offender past the chaos and wreckage and toward recovery.

This is precisely the business underway in 2,301 Drug Courts throughout this country. Drug Courts keep drug-addicted individuals in treatment long enough to get well, while supervising them closely. Participants receive the intensive treatment and other services they need to change their lives, all the while being held accountable by a judge for meeting their obligations to society, their families and themselves. They are regularly and randomly tested for drug use, frequently appear in court before a judge who reviews their progress, and are rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations. For these individuals, over a million and counting, Drug Court is the passport to a new life.

And Drug Courts have been proven to be effective beyond a reasonable doubt; far more effective, in fact, than any other criminal justice program. And yet over one-half of U.S. counties do not have a Drug Court, and the Drug Courts that do exist only have the capacity to serve about 10% of the 1.2 million adult offenders who are estimated to be in need. Drug Courts remain constrained by the more popular (but erroneous) thinking that alcoholics or addicts can be punished out of their dependence. It is time to abandon "conventional" views that prison is the solution to addiction, and consider what the research says.

Drug Courts Work

Drug Courts significantly reduce drug abuse and crime and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy. It is now 20 years since the first Drug Court was founded and there has been more research published on the effects of Drug Courts than on virtually all other criminal justice programs combined. Many medications have less scientific evidence supporting their safety and benefit to the public.

Nationwide, 70% of those who enter Drug Court complete it a year later and 75% of them remain arrest-free. On the other hand, the re-arrest rates for drug abusers after release from prison exceed 60% to 80%, and 95% return to drug abuse. A Drug Court participant is over twice as likely to stay drug-free and arrest-free as a newly released state inmate. Research also concludes that Drug Courts reduce drug abuse and improve employment and family functioning. These effects are not short-lived. The longest study on Drug Court, to date, shows these positive outcomes last as much as 14 years!

Drug Courts also save considerable money for taxpayers. The most conservative estimates show that for every $1.00 invested in Drug Court, $3.36 is saved by the justice system and up to $12.00 (per $1 investment) is saved by the community at-large as a result of fewer emergency room and other medical care visits, fewer foster care placements for displaced children, and less property losses to crime victims.

All Rise

It is our hope that drug-addicted citizens should not need to be arrested to receive the help they require. But for the 1.2 million drug-addicted arrestees currently involved in the adult criminal justice system, Drug Court is the solution and the passport to a new way of life.

To make Drug Court available to every American in need, NADCP has just launched www.allrise.org to provide extensive information on Drug Courts and promote the All Rise concept.

Check out our new PSA... then get involved. All Rise!

Drug Courts Work. Click here to learn more.

Comments

[bearclan]

As a member of a drug court team. We work very hard at giving our support to our clients and our sadden by those that are not ready to make the change in thier lives. On the other hand the sucess of our clients is a source of real pride for us and their families. I hope that drug courts will continue to be supported by our legislaters.

[Aneci]

Drug and DUI/DWI specialty courts are a "no-brainer". The benefits continue to be documented and it is frustrating to see states cut these budgets due to "lack of funds". Keep up the good work of informing all and let's continue to get commitments from candidates before elections and hold them accountable. Treating those addicted to alcohol and other drugs and documenting sobriety throughout treatment allows for successful outcome affecting not only the individual addicted but the family unit and the community as a whole.

[ValerieStaats]

The seeds of change...
In a punitive system of justice, they are fear, control, and oppression.
In a restorative system of justice, they are hope, healing, and empowerment.
As Thoreau wrote, “For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, one is hacking at the root.”

Finally, a criminal justice system that promotes healing from addiction rather than punishment for having its symptoms. Where incarceration tends to produce more 'hardened' criminal thinking, drug courts, tribal healing to wellness courts, and other problem solving courts save lives and money and help to restore families.

It has not been easy. Previously distinct 'systems' were challenged to work together in highly integrated teams – courts, addiction, law enforcement, probation, mental health, spiritual, child welfare, among others. They learned about addiction, restorative justice, the power of hope, human development and improving motivation for change. They built on strengths, involved families and collaborated with communities.

The hard work paid off. Drug court participants learned how to better manage their addiction, utilize supports, alter distorted thinking, and negotiate the challenges of life more skillfully. They made amends and became more accountable. They changed, not because they feared punishment, but because they could envision and feel worthy of a better life and were willing to develop the attitudes, skills and supports necessary to achieve it.

Let's 'all rise' to support the drug court movement. Let's 'all rise' to celebrate the hard work of drug court participants who, by transforming their lives, help to transform entire communities!!

[maxsarv]

Drug courts are a no-brainer. Save lives and save money. Support drug courts for a win-win.

[j mcdouglas]

Yes!

Let's join the 21st Century and actually start healing people and solving problems..­. not just bumping them down the road for our kids to deal with.

Non-violent crimes, especially drug crimes will not be lessened by sending people to prison, a place where minorities get locked into gang membership and a lifetime of drug abuse.

[aspiecelia]

Here in Alaska they have I think, one drug court in Anchorage. A lot of the judges here know nothing about addiction, let alone treatment. The prisons have almost no treatment. They keep the prisons well stocked with inmates and love to violate people for relapsing. It is backwards and sick here. A nurse was arrested in Juneau recently for relapsing and taking one dose of medication. It is close to barberic. They almost do the opposite of what it takes to get people clean and sober. There is also an attitude in Alaska that people in recovery are looked down on, instead of seen as very couragous.

[SFinlay]

Drug Courts give hope to addicts and their families that the addict can live a productive, lawful life. The support system created by the court, law enforcement, attorneys and treatment providers working together does work . The program is tough but the thousands of successful drug court graduates demonstrate that sobriety can be attained and maintained. I've been a judge for 29 years and have seen the high rate of recidivism in the criminal addict population. Drug court is the only program that I've seen consistently work. Every community needs a drug court. SFinlay

[luke1515]

People who turn to drugs to the point of addiction aren't likely to find the healing they need in our system of incarceration. As a society, we bear a responsibility to many who have unfortunately found themselves helplessly addicted to substances. Drug Courts and those who serve them all over America carry that responsibility squarely on their shoulders. Thanks to all of you, addicts who are helpless are no longer hopeless. Bravo!

[tontj]

I have been involved with drug courts and other problem solving courts since 1991. Even after I retired in 2004, I remained involved since I believe only the church has a greater opportunity to produce meaningful and lasting life change than do these courts. Families are re-united, quality of life is improved dramatically, communities are safer, futures are brighter and have hope, etc., etc.

Drug Courts might not be the best thing since sliced bread, but I am confident they are the most effective evolution in both the criminal justice and drug treatment fields, maybe ever.

[Porter93]

Just ate lunch in Annapolis. The waiter asked what I was doing in Annapolis since I'm from CA. I told him I work in a drug court...an­d he smiled and said. I'm in the local drug court and it saved my life. It is the first time a Judge ever cared about what happened to me." :-) Folks drug courts work. We need to make them available to everyonel.

[Atservice]

Amazing!

[ikoutzenok]

Drug Courts is among the smartes political and scientific decisions ever made in the history of addiction treatment. This field of treatment has alwayes been filled with unrealistic claims and self-serving statements. Very few ideas and models have been actually carefully tested scientifically, and the Drug Court model is one of the few that has such strong empirical support.

[Kimberly Grace]

I am so IMPRESSED with the growth of drug and re-entry courts!

[Dawson Rhoad]

I've been a team member of a Drug Court in North Carolina for over 7 years. After working with traditional criminal justice cases for years this was quite a change. Over time I came to realize that this team-oriented, non-adversarial approach is much more effective than the revolving door system that our courts seem to have become. Today alone our Drug Court graduated a 15 year heroin addict. In the past 2 years he's been reunited with his family (including 2 young children), started his own business, and paid thousands of dollars towards restitution. He admitted that none of it would have been possible without the structure and support of the Drug Court Program. Drug Courts not only benefit the addict, they benefit family and friends and promote public safety in our communities. I honestly believe that the work we're doing makes a tremendous difference and I don't know if I would still be in this career if I hadn't been assigned to Drug Court.

[DC008]

Wow...amaz­ing testimony.

[TeamMember]

I am a Drug Court team member in Arizona. Seeing the accomplishments of the dedicated participants makes me proud to be a small part of something so monumental as Drug Court. Seeing reunited families and babies born clean and free from addiction is such a wonderful feeling. Watching people pull themselves up and become productive members of society is so rewarding. Believe it! It works! Drug Court... It's Good Sh*t!!!

[CMC1]

Drug Court appears to be the program that is what it took to turn my sons life around. I will forever be grateful. Keep up thee good work!!

[mpaosu]

The capacity of people to change is inspiring. Drug Courts understand that changing one's life from one of addiction and criminal behavior to one of freedom from drugs and law abiding citizenship can be a bumpy journey. Drug Courts also understant that the journey is 100% worth it. We must RISE to the challenge!