[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       National Drug Court Month

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight some of the great 
successes of our drug courts around the Nation. May is National Drug 
Court Month, and I have come to the floor today to highlight the work 
of these innovative courts--I think that is an understatement--which 
play a unique role in our justice system.
  Participants in the drug court system receive treatment and support 
services to help these individuals recover, and the individuals are 
held accountable through regular drug testing and judicial supervision.
  These courts are uniquely equipped for nonviolent substance abuse 
offenders, and they provide eligible individuals with intensive 
treatment, individualized consequences, and other medical services in 
order to help them overcome their substance use disorder--something we 
have heard a lot about in every State.
  Participants are randomly tested for drug use and mandated to appear 
frequently in court so that the drug court judge can review their 
progress. The judge also holds drug court participants accountable for 
their obligations to the court and, of course, to society at large. All 
of these features make drug courts particularly important as we deal 
with the opioid crisis that has affected so many individuals, families, 
and communities in Pennsylvania and across the country. No 
neighborhood--no region of the State--is safe in this horror that we 
have been living through now for several years.
  Given the scope and severity of the opioid epidemic, we need to 
invest in effective solutions. I use that word purposefully--
``invest.'' With their proven track record of success, drug courts 
should be a keystone of our efforts to deal with the opioid crisis.
  Drug court systems not only save money, but they also reduce both 
drug use and crime itself. Recidivism rates among drug court 
participants are significantly lower than for those defendants 
undergoing traditional sentencing procedures. Around 50 to 70 percent 
of drug court participants complete at least a year of treatment, and 
75 percent of graduates remain arrest-free for the next 2 years. Let me 
say that again: 75 percent of drug court graduates remain arrest-free 
for the next 2 years.
  Additionally, studies have found that the use of drug courts save 
taxpayer money by lowering overall criminal justice costs. There are a 
lot of success stories from drug court graduates, and I want to 
highlight one today from Schuylkill County, PA, the Schuylkill County 
Drug Treatment Court.
  This constituent of mine struggled with opioid and alcohol use 
disorder and spent time in prison before going through the drug court 
system. According to the probation officer, this Pennsylvanian is now 
``gainfully employed, has regained a positive relationship with family, 
is working towards maintaining sobriety and is now working towards the 
long-term goal of buying a home.''
  That is just one story about one individual, who said:

       I used to think about how much I wanted to use and what I 
     wanted to use. Now I think about going to work and coming 
     home to my fiancee and children.

  That is one success story but a very powerful story.
  As the probation officer said, that is just one of many ``incredible 
stories of progress and redemption found in drug courts.''
  As we observe National Drug Court Month, I encourage my colleagues to 
continue supporting the innovative and effective work of these drug 
court programs. I want to thank the judges, officers, and other 
professionals who help make these success stories a reality every week.