[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5692-S5693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL DRUG COURT WEEK

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I begin my statement today thanking the 
various individuals and organizations that support the drug court 
programs. I have always been a strong supporter of drug court, and wish 
to express my pleasure with the ``National Drug Court Week'' events 
that are scheduled in Washington, DC this week. Recognizing the 
importance of practitioners who work on drug courts and the significant 
contributions that drug courts have made, and continue to make, in 
reducing drug use and crime in our communities is extremely important. 
I believe in the success of the drug courts and wish to acknowledge the 
dedicated efforts of drug court professionals.
  Drug Courts are revolutionizing the criminal justice system. The 
strategy behind drug courts departs from traditional criminal justice 
practice by placing nonviolent drug abusing offenders into intensive 
court supervised drug treatment instead of prison. Some drug courts 
target first time offenders, while others concentrate on habitual 
offenders. They all aim to reduce drug abuse and crime.
  Drug court programs have expanded from the original 12 in 1994 to 
around 400 today. Drug courts provide comprehensive judicial 
monitoring, drug testing and supervision, treatment and rehabilitative 
services, and sanctions and incentives for drug using offenders. The 
success of the drug court system is well documented. More than 70% of 
drug court clients have successfully completed the program or remain as 
active participants. Additionally, the cost of drug court programs are 
significantly less than the cost of incarceration and traditional court 
systems.
  In my home state of Colorado the drug court movement is growing. 
Started in 1994, the Denver Drug Court assigns defendants to one of 
three tracks. Tracks 1 and 2 are community supervision and treatment 
tracks. Track 3 is a serious offender incarceration track. These tracks 
establish the different type of programs that are offered to various 
offenders.
  Approximately 75% of all drug cases are appropriate for the community 
supervision track. At any given time, approximately 1500 cases are 
under court supervision. An analysis of post-conviction progress 
reviews of offenders under Track 1 or Track 2 demonstrates that 67% of 
those individuals complied with the Drug Court Program and did not use 
any illegal substances. Since the graduation of the first class in July 
1995, the Drug Court has successfully graduated over 500 individuals. 
Of the 100 graduates who have been out of the Drug Court for one year 
or longer, only 10% have been rearrested for a felony offense.
  Last year, General McCaffrey and I had the opportunity to observe the 
Denver Drug Court. Through this experience I was able to see first hand 
the judicial procedures surrounding drug

[[Page S5693]]

courts. I was impressed with Denver's Drug Court procedures, and 
believe in the success they will yield.
  I am pleased with the success of the Denver Drug Court program and 
support the growing programs within Colorado. I believe the success of 
drug courts is well documented and strong Congressional support should 
be given to the rehabilitation of future drug offenders. Traditional 
incarceration has yielded little gains for our drug offenders. Costs 
are too high and the rehabilitation rate is minimal. The drug courts of 
America are an excellent way to make strides forward in our fight 
against drugs. I commend the National Association of Drug Court 
Professionals (NADCP) in their planning and sponsoring of ``National 
Drug Court Week'' events here in Washington. The recognition of this 
excellent program and promotion of its initiatives is well deserved.

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