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County Drug Court Helps Offenders, And Saves Taxpayers Money

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2008

It's not too often that the outcome of a court case is beneficial to all parties involved, as well as taxpayers. But that's truly the case with Pasco County Adult Drug Court.

The year-old program's first 24 participants recently graduated - nonviolent drug offenders who succeeded when given a chance to get clean. They have a chance to start anew without having permanent criminal records or spending time behind bars.

An estimated 60 others are expected to graduate in the next few months.

Considering the devastating effects of drug use on individuals, families and society, their stories are inspiring.

The program's good news includes the birth of four drug-free babies and two graduates' completion of the work to earn the equivalency of a high school diploma, which is a requirement for participants who have not graduated from high school, court officials say.

Most importantly, drug treatment is required.

Understandably, some people firmly believe the court system shouldn't coddle those who break the law - that they should be locked up. But that's not always fair or realistic, especially in Pasco, where the jail system is severely crowded.

If it comes to either releasing a person who is only harming themselves by using drugs or someone accused of a violent crime against another, clearly the latter should be held unless bail is posted or until county jail sentences are served.

But it's not an easy walk for drug court participants. They are closely monitored and required to remain clean and be truthful - or risk being transferred to a regular felony division.

Court officials already estimate that the program has saved Pasco taxpayers about $567,000 - the cost of housing 50 defendants for 180 days in county lockup. The savings to taxpayers and the second chances given drug offenders to become productive citizens are why residents need to support such programs.

The program also has other positive effects. As Pasco has grown, so, too, have the number of cases handled by prosecutors, public defenders and judges. But defendants who choose to participate in drug court agree to forgo depositions, "substantive" pretrial motions and trials. This helps move cases through the system.

The recent graduates still face challenges. The recidivism rate of the 6-year-old drug court in Pinellas County - the other half of the 6th Judicial Circuit - is about 16 percent one year after completion and about 27 percent after two years, court officials say. Pasco's rate will be determined, at least initially, by how the first group of graduates do.

Still, the graduates should be proud, and taxpayers should be, too. Rehabilitation sometimes takes a back seat to punishment in the court system. Pasco County Adult Drug Court gives people a second chance, and the onus is on them to make the best of it, which is the way it should be.

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