Public Hearing Scheduled on Orie Bill to Create Drug Courts

 

HARRISBURG -- Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jane Orie (R-40) to save tax dollars and reduce crime through the creation of drug courts will be the topic of a public hearing this week at the Allegheny Courthouse.

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing will be held Thursday, March 17, 12:30 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Allegheny Courthouse in Pittsburgh.

 

Senator Orie's legislation, Senate Bill 415, would provide for the establishment of a drug court division by the Court of Common Pleas of any county or judicial district. 

 

"Drug courts are being used across the nation to save money and to help the diverted offenders remain free of substance abuse, addiction and crime," said Orie, who introduced similar legislation in 2003.  "In 2004, there were more 1,600 drug courts in existence in the United States, with more than 400 in the planning stages.  New Jersey's drug court legislation was signed into law in 2001 and by 2004, drug courts were established statewide.  In New Jersey, diverting an offender to a drug court program costs half as much as the annual $34,000 cost to incarcerate that offender."

 

The senator noted that numerous other studies have shown that drug courts save money, by diverting offenders from prisons into intensive supervision and treatment programs.  One example is the Philadelphia Treatment Court, which diverts those with drug addiction problems who have committed non-violent felony offenses and has saved an estimated $3.8 million in 2000 and 2001 combined.  Incarceration of an offender in Philadelphia costs approximately $25,000 per year, while the Philadelphia Treatment Court costs $2,500 to $4,000 annually per participant. 

 

"In addition to saving tax dollars, drug courts are also shown to reduce recidivism among participants.  In Philadelphia, only 15 percent are arrested again within a year, compared to 48 percent nationwide.  Other drug courts and states have shown similar reductions in recidivism," said Orie.   

 

As proposed in Senate Bill 415, the Drug Court program would utilize the U. S. Department of Justice's guidelines for drug courts and would promote greater cooperation between the criminal justice and the drug rehabilitation systems.  The program also would expedite case processing, improve offender access to services and support and centralize all facets of drug abuse case management.