Understanding the Benefits of Drug Court Programs (Part One)

In our society, it’s widely believed that people who commit crimes should be punished for their actions, in the hope that the punishment will deter them from committing any future crimes. However, the general public may forget that some defendants in our criminal justice system are victims themselves, and they need help and treatment far more than a stint in jail.

Drug Court programs are an alternative to conventional criminal courts, with the goal of providing lasting help to those caught in the vicious cycle of addiction. In Harris County, the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) Drug Court program bridges the gap between criminal justice and therapeutic treatment approaches for defendants with drug dependencies. STAR treats non-violent, repeat drug offenders to reduce the costs of continuing drug abuse and possible future crimes.

Today we begin a two-part series looking at the various benefits of Drug Court Programs, and how they can help defendants, as well as society at large.

When individuals are struggling with drug addiction, they are far more likely to commit crimes in order to support their addiction, such as theft, credit card fraud, or prostitution. In addition, drug addicts are at a higher risk of becoming victims of other crimes themselves, such as assault, rape, and even homicide. When addicts are given the chance to pursue sobriety in a therapeutic treatment environment, they have an opportunity to break their addiction and patterns of criminal activity, as well as protect themselves from harm.

Recidivism is the tendency to relapse back into criminal behavior, meaning that previous punishments or warnings are ineffective in stopping defendants from committing offenses again. Drug addicts often enter into a cycle of criminal activity because they either lack the tools to quit their drug habit, they see no way out of their current situation, or the punishments aren’t enough to stop their criminal activity. Drug Court programs decrease recidivism by offering defendants effective drug treatment rehabilitation, individual and group therapy, and the hope that there is life beyond their addiction.

While many taxpayers believe jail is the best course of action for drug offenders, they may be unaware of the high costs involved in housing, feeding, and caring for drug addicts in our jails and prisons. Because a large number of defendants in jails and prisons are there for non-violent drug offenses, this adds additional strain to taxpayers. Instead of locking up non-violent drug addicts in jail or prison, they can get rehabilitation and therapy at a much lower cost to the taxpayer, as their housing, food, and care costs are much lower than in a jail.

In order to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with addiction, as well as in our communities impacted by addiction and crime, Drug Court Programs need the support of individuals and businesses. In our next blog post, we’ll continue to highlight the many benefits of Drug Court Programs, and how they can radically transform lives, families, and communities.