Drug Court celebrates National Drug Court Month

Mineral County, MT, May 16, 2012 – In celebration of “National Drug Court Month,” the Mineral County DUI/Drug Treatment Court will hold a graduation ceremony on May 16, 2012 at the Mineral County Courthouse. Attorney General Steve Bullock will deliver the keynote address. This is the court’s third National Drug Court Month event since it was founded in 2006.

One participant is expected to graduate. The ceremony marks completion of an intensive program of comprehensive drug treatment, close supervision, and full accountability. 

“National Drug Court Month” is coordinated on a national level by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). This year, Drug Courts throughout the nation are celebrating National Drug Court Month with the theme: “Drug Courts: Where Accountability Meets Compassion.” Like the other 2,600 operational Drug Courts in the United States, the Mineral County DUI/Drug Treatment Court is a judicially-supervised court docket that reduces correctional costs, protects community safety, and improves public welfare. In Drug Courts, seriously drug-addicted individuals remain in treatment for long periods of time while under close supervision. Drug Court participants must meet their obligation to themselves, their families, and society. To ensure accountability, they are regularly and randomly tested for drug use, required to appear frequently in court for the judge to review their progress, rewarded for doing well and sanctioned for not living up to their obligations. 

Drug Courts are this nation’s most effective strategy at reducing recidivism among seriously drug addicted, nonviolent offenders with long criminal histories. Nationally, 75% of individuals who complete Drug Court are not re-arrested. Drug Courts save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve and return as much as $27 for every $1 invested. “Drug Courts are a proven budget solution and must be expanded,” said NADCP CEO West Huddleston. “This May, Drug Courts throughout the country are demonstrating that a combination of accountability and compassion should be the foundation upon which our criminal justice system handles drug addicted individuals. By treating our chronically addicted offenders, we can save vast amounts of money, protect public safety and reduce drug abuse in the community.” Mr. Huddleston acknowledged the progress of the last two decades but stated that more can be done. “In order to truly end the cycle of substance abuse and crime,” he added, “we must put a Drug Court within reach of every eligible American.” 

Mineral County Drug Treatment Court began November 21, 2006 under the provisions of the Montana Drug Offender Accountability and Treatment Act, Section 46-1-1101, MCA.  The purpose of Treatment Court is to reduce repeat offenses, restore DUI and drug offenders to being productive, law-abiding citizens, to break the cycle of addiction that gives rise to repeated law-breaking episodes and to help protect the community from the harm caused by DUI or drug impaired offenders.  Misdemeanor defendants from Justice Court and defendants who are on felony probation with the Division of Adult Probation and Parole are both eligible for the program.  Applicants must first agree to enter a guilty plea and continue their sentencing date indefinitely.  Each applicant will be assigned a treatment provider for an initial chemical dependency assessment.  Treatment will be based on this.  A participant can plan on an approximate twelve month tenure.  The contract provides that the Defendant may have the involved charge(s) dismissed if he/she successfully completes the Treatment Court program and be given the standard sentence for the offense if he/she withdraws from or is discharged from Treatment Court before successful completion.

Judge Wanda James, who sees participants in the program for a weekly check-in, said “it’s super intensive”. But the chance to utilize the program under the Montana Drug Offender Accountability and Treatment Act is one Judge James is thankful for.

In a previous DUI Court graduation article, graduate Walter Schrock said, “It gives you a second chance, maybe more than that, at your life.”