| Few can argue with the outstanding rate of success | | | | of dollars. |
| found in drug courts in Orange County, Calif. While | | | | ● The DUI Courts have graduated 514 DUI |
| skeptics have dismissed the value of drug court | | | | offenders, each of whom had been arrested for the |
| rehabilitation over incarceration, the true numbers | | | | second or third time. |
| coming out of Orange County put their objections to | | | | "This has saved health care costs for many people |
| rest. | | | | — including the participants who will live longer, |
| Orange County's Collaborative Court programs "offer | | | | healthier lives and the innocent victims who will not |
| therapeutic, life-changing alternatives to the revolving | | | | be injured or die in future automobile accidents," |
| door of incarceration and re-arrest," according to | | | | Shapiro reports. |
| Collaborative Courts Officer Paul W. Shapiro in a | | | | Those who worry about putting criminals back on the |
| March 15, 2010, cover letter to the 2009 annual | | | | street should note Orange County's low rates of |
| report. | | | | recidivism: |
| Shapiro adds, "The success of these programs, both | | | | ● Drug Court graduates who have been out of |
| economic and social, is reflected in many ways." | | | | the program for three years have a recidivism rate, |
| Orange County's 2009 statistics show drug courts | | | | for any crime, that is far less than half the rate of |
| work for the betterment of individuals and society, | | | | offenders who qualified for but did not participate in |
| while saving tax dollars: | | | | Drug Court (32% compared to 74%). |
| ● Drug Court saved 25,343 jail bed days for a | | | | ● Of the Juvenile Drug Court graduates out of |
| cost savings of more than $2,383,000, and 13,966 | | | | the program for two years, only 18% had a |
| prison bed days, for a cost savings of more than | | | | subsequent referral to Probation. |
| $1,360,000. | | | | ● Of the mental health court graduates, only 15% |
| ● Juvenile Drug Court saved 3,055 days of | | | | have been re-arrested. |
| custody, for a cost savings of more than $452,750. | | | | ● Of the 514 DUI Court graduates, only 19 have |
| ● DUI Court saved 24,796 jail bed days, for a | | | | been re-arrested for drunken driving — a |
| cost savings of more than $2,330,600. | | | | recidivism rate of 3.7%. |
| Other highlights of Orange County's program include: | | | | Working hand in hand with drug courts are the |
| ● Dependency Drug Court led to the early | | | | Orange County drug and alcohol rehabilitation |
| reunification of 63 children with clean and sober | | | | providers, such as National Therapeutic Services, |
| parents, resulting in an estimated savings of more | | | | which has worked with Orange County probation for |
| than $2 million, of which the county's share was more | | | | more than 20 years. |
| than $875,000. | | | | "This means that we can take addicts and alcoholics |
| ● Researchers for the Administrative Office of | | | | who otherwise might have been sent to jail or prison |
| the Courts found that every $1 invested in the Drug | | | | and treat them in-lieu of imprisonment," NTS reports |
| Court at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana | | | | on its website. |
| resulted in a total cost savings of $7.30. | | | | "When looking for a drug or alcohol Treatment |
| ● Females in the adult and juvenile Drug Court, | | | | Program that is probation approved make sure you |
| DUI Court, and mental health court programs have | | | | ask the treatment facility you are looking at what |
| given birth to 147 drug-free babies while participating | | | | court services they provide," NTS adds on its |
| in the program, saving the heath care system millions | | | | website. |