[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL DRUG COURT WEEK

 Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, as I did around this time last 
year, I want to recognize National Drug Court Week which is taking 
place next week. Since the Senate will be in recess at that time, I 
take this opportunity today to applaud our nation's drug courts and the 
people who have made them the successes they are today.
  Next week, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals will 
sponsor a training conference, suitably titled ``Celebrating Ten Years 
of Drug Courts: Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future,'' which will 
be held in Miami Beach, Florida. This year approximately 3,000 
professionals from across the country, including judges, prosecutors, 
defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, 
rehabilitation and treatment providers, educators, researchers and 
community leaders will be attending the conference. These Drug Court 
professionals' dedication has had a significant positive impact on the 
communities they serve.
  The two and a half day conference will coincide with National Drug 
Court Week, June 1st though 7th, 1999. All across America, state and 
local governments have been recognizing drug courts and their dedicated 
professionals with resolutions, ceremonies and celebrations.
  The Drug Court growth rate has been accelerating over the past 
several years. While the first Drug Court was established in 1989, 
there are currently over 600 Drug Courts that are either operating or 
being established. This surge in growth is a product of success.
  Drug Courts are revolutionizing the criminal justice system. The 
strategy behind Drug Courts departs from traditional criminal justice 
practice by placing non-violent drug abusing offenders into intensive 
court supervised drug treatment programs 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 by 
employing a number of tools including comprehensive judicial 
monitoring, drug testing and supervision, treatment and rehabilitative 
services, and sanctions and incentives for drug offenders.
  Statistics show us that Drug Courts work. It has been well documented 
that both drug use and associated criminal behavior are substantially 
reduced among those offenders participating in the Drug Courts. More 
than 70 percent of drug court clients have successfully completed the 
program or remain as active participants.
  Drug Courts are also clearly cost-effective and help convert many 
drug-using offenders into productive members of society. Traditional 
incarceration has yielded few gains for our drug offenders. The costs 
are too high and the rehabilitation rate is minimal. Our Drug Courts 
are proving to be an effective alternative to traditional 
rehabilitation methods and are make strides forward in our fight 
against both drugs and crime.
  In 1997, General McCaffrey and I had the opportunity to visit the 
Denver Drug Court. Through this experience I was able to meet with 
Denver's Drug Court professionals and observe their judicial procedures 
and other program activities first hand. I was impressed with the 
Denver Drug Court professionals and procedures, and believe they will 
yield many successes.
  Today, as the chairman of the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy, I feel it is fitting to recognize on the floor of the 
U.S. Senate the important contributions our nation's Drug Court 
professionals are making toward reducing drug use and crime in our 
communities in time for National Drug Court Week.
  Thank you Mr. President.

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