Presidential Candidates Weigh In About Drug Court

We know that drug court is the antidote to the problem that touches all Americans – addiction. As such, drug court has taken center stage in the national debate among 2008 Presidential candidates! NADCP is proud that drug court is being recognized as a staple strategy in a number of Presidential campaigns and applauded as the future of this nation’s response to drug involved citizens who emerge in the justice system.

NADCP will continue to not only increase awareness of the success of drug court among Presidential hopefuls but, the need to take drug courts to scale in order to meet the vast number of untreated citizens in America’s justice system. Here is what some Presidential Candidates have said thus far about drug courts.

Senator Clinton:
“I have spoken out on my belief that we should have drug courts that would serve as alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system for low-level offenders. If the person comes before the court, agrees to stay clean, is subjected to drug tests once a week, they are diverted from the criminal justice system.”

“We need diversion, like drug courts. Non-violent offenders should not be serving hard time in our prisons. They need to be diverted from our prison system.” Source: 2007 Democratic Primary Debate at Howard University Jun 28, 2007

Governor Huckabee:
“We really don't have so much a crime problem in this country. We have a drug and alcohol problem. 80% of the people who are in our prisons and jails are there for a drug or alcohol crime. They either were high or drunk when they committed the crime, or they committed the crime to get high or drunk. And what has made a huge mistake is that we've incarcerated so many of the people who really need drug rehab more than they need long-term incarceration.

In our state, we established over 20 drug courts, that gave people an alternative course, rather than just putting them in prison, giving them the opportunity to get what they really needed, which is off the addiction. We've got to quit locking up all the people that we're mad at and lock up the people that we're really afraid of, the people who are sexual predators and violent offenders. I would go for more drug courts and for a lot less incarceration of drug-addicted people.” Source: 2007 GOP Presidential Forum at Morgan State University Sep 27, 2007

“A major reform in dealing with drug offenders in Arkansas was the establishment of drug courts, where a non-violent drug offender can be directed to enroll in drug treatment programs or heavily supervised community service. The drug courts helped our recidivism rate drop to 31%. The cost per day is lower than that of prison, while at the same time allowing offenders to regain their lives, so that they return to their communities as healthy, addiction-free people.

As President, I will work with the states to increase drug courts and treatment programs for non-violent offenders throughout the country, so there will be fewer absent fathers and mothers sitting in prison for a drug charge, and more rehabilitated adults in our communities who can use their experience to help steer our youth away from drug and alcohol abuse.” Source: Partnership For a Drug-Free America 2007

Senator Obama:
“I will ensure that states have the resources to support existing drug courts, which have been proven successful in dealing with non-violent offenders. These courts offer a mix of treatment and sanctions, in lieu of traditional incarceration. Currently, the Department of Justice makes grants available to state and local governments to establish drug courts. I will replicate these efforts within the federal criminal justice system by signing a law that would authorize federal magistrates to preside over drug courts and federal probation officers to oversee the offenders’ compliance with drug treatment programs.” Source: Partnership For a Drug-Free America 2007

Go to www.nadcp.org.