[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE DRUG COURT PROGRAM GIVES THOSE CHARGED WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRIMES 
                           A FIGHTING CHANCE

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell my colleagues about a 
justice program that is working. The drug court is a program in use 
across our country to help give those charged with substance abuse 
crimes a fighting chance to make the difficult transition from a life 
of drug abuse to that of productive members of our society.
  I worked hard to obtain Justice Department funding to keep this 
program going in Orange County, and I am glad that I was successful. 
The Orange County drug court is one of 160 drug courts throughout the 
Nation that are making a difference in helping to keep our courts from 
getting engulfed in a sea of cases.
  Very simply put, this program allows some of those individuals who 
are charged with drug offenses the option of completing the drug court 
program which consists of individual specific community service and 
rehabilitation.
  I recently went to the graduation of some of these people in the drug 
court program, and we affect not only individual's lives but entire 
families. Of the 14 who graduated that day, there were probably about 
50 family members who had tears in their eyes that day to see the 
change that had overcome those people that they loved. Those who choose 
the option are placed in a highly structured program, and they are 
subject to intense supervision. Their successes are praised, and their 
failures are dealt with quickly and appropriately.
  This program works. It makes our justice system more efficient, but, 
more important, it rebuilds peoples' lives. If any of my colleagues 
want to learn about this unique, effective drug court program, I would 
be happy to work with them to promote drug courts in their own areas.

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