[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4294-S4295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DRUG COURTS IN THE YEAR 2000

 Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I want to recognize Drug 
Courts and highlight the invaluable role they play in our Nation's war 
on drugs. As I have done at this time of the year for the past two 
years, I take this opportunity to call my colleagues' attention to the 
significant contribution Drug Courts make. Above all, I want to take 
this opportunity to once again recognize and applaud the dedicated 
professionals who have made our Nation's Drug Courts the successes they 
are today.
  As our Drug Courts enter their eleventh year of operation, they are 
as important as ever in our Nation's battle against drug abuse and the 
devastating impact drugs have on our Nation and its families. Over the 
past year 100-plus new Drug Courts have been established throughout the 
country, bringing the

[[Page S4295]]

total number to over 700. Additionally, Drug Courts are now expanding 
internationally, underscoring their value around the world.
  I am especially glad to hear that some of our Drug Courts' best 
practices are now being tailored to the needs and values of native 
communities, which for many years have suffered disproportionally from 
the scourge of substance abuse. The kinds of programs offered by Drug 
Courts could play a vital role in breaking the ``Iron Triangle'' of 
substance abuse, gangs and crime that trap far too many of our Nation's 
Native Americans and others in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
  Next week--from June 1st and 3rd, 2000--the National Association of 
Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) will host the 6th Annual NADCP Drug 
Court Training Conference entitled ``Expanding the Vision: The New Drug 
Court Pioneers.'' in San Francisco, California. The NADCP expects that 
this year's drug court conference will be the largest ever, with over 
3,000 drug court professionals slated to attend.
  This year, six individuals will receive the 2000 NADCP New Pioneers 
Award. I congratulate and thank each of these six outstanding people. I 
especially want to recognize an award recipient from my home state of 
Colorado, the Denver District Attorney, William Ritter, Jr.
  The Denver Drug Court is the first--ever drug court system which now 
handles 75 percent of all drug cases filed in the city and county of 
Denver. All offenders, with the exception of illegal aliens, those 
arrested with a companion non-drug felony case or who have two or more 
prior felony convictions, are handled in this court. Most individuals 
are assessed within 24 hours of arrest. The pre-trial case managers 
monitor offenders on bond, while they await entry into the program. 
Over 8,000 participants have entered the program since it began 
operations on July 1, 1994.
  As the Chairman of the Treasury and General Government Subcommittee, 
which funds the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), I took 
the opportunity to visit the Denver Drug Court with ONDCP Director 
Barry McCaffrey. We met with the Drug Court professionals and observed 
their judicial procedures. We also saw first-hand how the court's 
programs have a direct impact on drug-abusing offenders. I believe the 
Denver Drug Court serves as a role model for the next generation of 
Drug Court practitioners
  Drug Courts continue to revolutionize 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. 
Drug Courts aim to reduce drug abuse and crime by employing tools like 
comprehensive judicial monitoring, drug testing, supervision, 
treatment, rehabilitative services, as well as other sanctions and 
incentives for drug offenders.
  Statistics show us that Drug Courts work. More than 70 percent of 
Drug Court clients have successfully completed the program or remain as 
active participants. Drug Courts are also cost-effective. They help 
convert many drug-using offenders into productive members of society. 
This is clearly preferable to lengthy or repeated incarceration, which 
traditionally has yielded few gains for those struggling with drugs or 
our Nation as a whole. Drug Courts are proving to be an effective tool 
in our fight against both drug abuse and other drug-related crime.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing those Drug Court 
professionals who are improving their communities by dedicating 
themselves to this worthwhile concept and expanding the vision for the 
next generation of practitioners.

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