Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee ( which I have been a member of for 15 years) visited the Ramsay County Drug court in St. Paul.
I’ve heard a lot about drug courts over the years, but have never seen one in action. In theory, the court works by imposing intensive supervision, and creating high expectations for the offenders and a positive court environment. The offenders come to court every week. The Judge gets to know each offender very well, including their family members, work and treatment history. There are regular drug tests and swift consequences for a missed deadline or failed urinalysis.
Today, one of the offenders “graduated” from the program and was released from probation about 18 months early. Another woman was caught using drugs again and was sent to State prison. All of the drug court participants were in court to observe the benefits of success and the consequence of failure.
The atmosphere was a little too cozy (we had cake for the graduate, and applause for most of the offenders), but I could see in the faces of the offenders that they were pleased to be free from their drug addiction while in the program. All of the offenders received a handshake from the judge and a hug from the probation agent as they left the courtroom. Quite different from the normal courtroom environment that I’m used to here in Rice County.
It takes more money to deal with drug offenders this way. But, in the end, about 85% of the offenders finish the program. They get back to work faster, and we all save money in jail and prison space. Families stay together, communities heal faster and recidivism is less. I like the concept - but without the cake.