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Rep. Boozman Introduces Bill to Strengthen Drug Court Program
Bill was inspired by the successes of area drug courts

Washington, Sep 13 -

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today introduced legislation to improve and promote drug courts by creating stricter testing measures and allowing federal funds to be used by drug courts for community awareness purposes.

Drug courts provide an alternative to incarceration for persons convicted of drug related charges as well as for persons whose substance abuse was a factor in the commission of a crime (e.g. crime was committed while under the influence or to maintain drug use). Drug court participants are required to successfully complete treatment for their addiction and must comply with various requirements or expectations including: passing random drug tests, maintaining gainful employment and participating in 12-Step or other self help groups.

“Early court intervention and substance abuse treatment, has proven to be effective in reducing recidivism among drug offenders,” said Boozman.

Currently, there are three drug courts in the Third District of Arkansas; they are in Sebastian County, Boone County and Washington County. Boozman said this legislation was “inspired by the successes” of these drug courts.

“Our local drug courts have proven to be an effective alternative to jail for individuals convicted of nonviolent drug charges. The programs are intense, and as a result, set participants on course to being a productive member of the community,” said Boozman.

Specifically, the “Drug Courts Improvement Act” seeks to strengthen and improve the federal government’s Drug Courts Grant Program by empowering the U.S. Attorney General to create specific guidelines for testing; ensure that testing is as accurate as possible; and require immediate and dramatic punitive sanctions and/or therapeutic measures when a participant fails a drug test.

“By creating uniformity in the drug testing policy we refocus drug courts on the actual rehabilitation rate, rather than simply on the re-arrest rate,” said Boozman.

The bill also provides incentives for drug courts to educate students and the community regarding the seriousness of the nation’s drug problems, including the methamphetamine epidemic. This idea was specifically designed around the practices of the Washington County Drug Court run by Judge Mary Ann Gunn.

“One of the things that Judge Gunn has done is to hold her drug court at local schools so teenagers can see how their lives may end up if they abuse drugs. It’s an interesting approach that I would like to see other drug courts in the country use. Therefore, as part of this bill, we allow drug courts to use federal funds to hold hearings in public places, such as schools,” said Boozman.

Drug courts are operated at a local level, but are eligible for aid from the federal government. The federal funds come from the Drug Courts Grant Program, administered by the Department of Justice. The overall purpose of this program is to assist jurisdictions in the development and implementation of new and existing drug courts. The Bush Administration strongly supports the program and has requested $70,060,000 for the program in the FY06 budget.