U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) today urged Congress to make a strong investment in drug courts, the most effective solution for reducing crime and recidivism among non-violent drug-addicted offenders at a fraction of the cost of sending them to prison. Larsen was joined at the press conference by Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Acting-Director Edward H. Jurith, Chair of the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee Rep. Allan P. Mollohan (WV-01), Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) West Huddleston, and Chairman of the NADCP Board Judge Chuck Simmons. Following the press conference, Larsen was presented with the NADCP Congressional Leadership Award by Board Member Dr. Terree Schmidt-Whelan of the Washington State Meth Initiative and the Pierce County Alliance.

PHOTO: Dr. Terree Schmidt-Whelan of the Washington State Meth Initiative presents Larsen with a NADCP leadership award.

“In my home state of Washington, methamphetamine and other drugs have taken a terrible toll on our communities – on local families, schools, and businesses,” said U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine. “Meth is a powerful drug, and meth addiction can be extremely difficult to beat. But when drug courts intervene, addictions are overcome, crimes prevented, families reunited, and lives saved.”

Drug courts blend the oversight of a court with the therapeutic capabilities of drug treatment.  The program includes comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives.  Drug court programs bring judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, substance abuse treatment specialists, probation officers, law enforcement personnel, educational and vocational experts, mental health workers and others together to force the offender to deal with his or her substance abuse problem.

“We are here today to celebrate the 20th birthday of Drug Courts: Twenty years of restoring lives, reuniting families and protecting public safety,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston. “In the twenty years since the first Drug Court was founded, there has been more research published on the effects of Drug Courts than on virtually all other criminal justice programs combined. The scientific community has put Drug Courts under the microscope and concluded that Drug Courts significantly reduce drug abuse and crime and do so at less expense than any other justice strategy.”

Drug courts cost less than $5,000 for one year of treatment with low recidivism, compared to $25,000 to $45,000 to incarcerate an addict who typically is rearrested within 90 days. In Washington state, Snohomish County's drug court has a 93 percent success rate.

Drug courts have been recognized as an effective weapon against the methamphetamine epidemic.  In June 2005, the Justice Department released a report confirming that drug courts are a critical part of our nation's strategy to address methamphetamine.
 

Following are Larsen’s full remarks as prepared for delivery:

“I want to thank the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and all the other leaders who are here today to support their work, in particular Terree Schmidt-Whelan from the Washington State Meth Initiative, who has been a leader in the fight against the methamphetamine epidemic in Washington state and a strong advocate for drug courts.

“In my home state of Washington, methamphetamine and other drugs have taken a terrible toll. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, I have seen the devastating impact of drug addiction on our families, schools, businesses and communities. That is why I have made it a specific goal of my office to support drug interdiction efforts and support key prevention, treatment and education efforts like drug courts.

“Meth is a powerful drug, and meth addiction can be extremely difficult to beat. But when drug courts intervene, addictions are overcome, crimes prevented, families reunited, and lives saved.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the opportunity to meet with drug court clients and the criminal justice and treatment professionals who help them succeed, including the presiding judge of Snohomish County, Washington’s adult offender drug court program, George Bowden, who retired this January.

“During his service, Judge Bowden helped 350 participants graduate from Snohomish County’s drug court program.  Remarkably, for those who complete the program, the rate of recidivism is just 7 percent.  That compares to an estimated recidivism rate of 70 to 80 percent for addicted offenders who do not receive treatment.

“When Judge Bowden asked one recent graduate how her life was different now that she had completed drug court, she told him that when she started the program she was living in her car, her two children had been placed in foster care and she was unable to stop using drugs.

“Following her graduation from drug court, she is clean and sober, her children have been returned to her and she is renting a new town home and supporting herself and her family as a manager at a sporting goods store.

“Another successful drug court participant in my district was a habitual drug user who committed a rash of felonies prior to his interaction with the Snohomish County Drug Court Program.

“Following his graduation from the program, he became the Vice President of the Snohomish County Drug Court Alumni Association, and a full-time student at Everett Community College, and he has maintained his sobriety for nearly two years.

“His positive experience with drug courts has led him on a path to give back to his community to help others who are struggling with addiction.  He will start classes at a four-year university where he will begin work on becoming a probation officer, so he can assist other individuals struggling to get their lives back on track.

“These are just two success stories, but I’m sure the leaders here today could tell countless more from across the country.  Last year alone, 20,000 people graduated from drug courts in every state in the nation.

“Drug courts are also a sound investment. According to the Washington State Institute of Public Policy, investing in drug courts saves local communities between $4,000 and $12,000 per participant.

“But despite these successes, funding for this vital program can be hard to find.  The recession has resulted in severe cut backs for drug courts across Washington state.  In Snohomish County, the Adult Drug Court has been cut by more than half from 150 participants to 60.

“In Washington state and across the country, we should be expanding drug courts, not scaling them back.

“Starting and sustaining drug courts is an uphill climb. Federal funding is key, which is the reason I support the NADCP’s request of $250 million per year in Drug Court funding for the next six years.  I believe this critical funding will make Drug Court available to non-violent, drug-addicted offenders, putting a Drug Court within reach of every adult, juvenile, veteran and family in America who needs it.

“It is also important to keep in mind that drug courts rely on state and local funding to stay afloat.  Federal, state and local leaders must work together to help these critical programs succeed.

“I am encouraged by President Obama’s support for drug courts, and I hope that his upcoming budget will reflect the need to invest in education, treatment, and prevention as a way to reduce the burden on our criminal justice system and provide non-violent offenders with an opportunity to turn their lives around.

“Supporting the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program will help new drug courts fight crime, save families and help drug users become healthy and productive members of society.  I urge my colleagues in Congress to invest in a strategy that works for our communities and to strengthen funding for drug courts.  Thank you.”