[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE ROCHESTER DRUG COURT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2008

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Rochester Drug Court for 14 years of service to the community and to 
drug courts around the country during National Drug Court Month. Over 
2,100 drug courts in the United States provide an alternative to 
incarceration for non-violent, drug-addicted offenders by combining 
intense judicial supervision, comprehensive substance abuse and mental 
health treatment, random and frequent drug testing, incentives and 
sanctions, clinical case management and ancillary life skills services. 
The tireless efforts of the judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, 
treatment providers, rehabilitation experts, child advocates, 
researchers, educators, law enforcement representatives, correctional 
representatives, pre-trial officers and probation officers that are 
involved in drug courts provide substance abuse offenders with the 
much-needed chance at long-term recovery and productive lifestyles.
  I have seen firsthand the impact of drug courts in my state, where 
drug court programs have enhanced public safety, saved taxpayer dollars 
and, most importantly, saved lives.
  The first drug court in New York State was founded in my 
congressional district in Rochester, New York in 1995 and I have been a 
supporter ever since. In 1997, I was honored to be one of the drug 
court's first graduation speakers.
  To date, New York State has opened an additional 200 drug courts. 
Rochester alone has had over 1500 graduates from its court and over 100 
babies have been born drug free.
  As we face a growing population of drug-addicted offenders in the 
American justice system, we must expand our efforts to bring treatment 
to a larger number of those in need. According to a recent study by the 
Urban Research Institute's Justice Policy Center, approximately 1.5 
million drug-involved offenders should be diverted to drug court, which 
would generate $46 billion in savings to American taxpayers. Armed with 
this study as well as our existing research that drug courts work, 
reduce recidivism, and save lives, we must work on taking drug courts 
to scale.
  If society is truly going to save the lives of the addicted, break 
the familial cycle of addiction for future generations, have a 
substantial impact on associated crime, child abuse and neglect, reduce 
poverty, alleviate the over-reliance on incarceration for the addicted, 
and reduce many of the public health consequences in the United States, 
drug courts must be taken to scale. There is no greater opportunity for 
systemic social change in the American justice system. There is no 
greater opportunity to heal families and communities.
  Again, congratulations to the dedicated drug court professionals and 
graduates in Rochester and across the country on a job well done.

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