Depending on the type of drug charge you face in Wisconsin, you could potentially face serious, life-altering consequences in the event that your charge leads to a conviction. Jail time and substantial fees and fines are just some of what you may face once authorities charge you with drug sales, drug possession or a similar drug crime. Depending on circumstances, you may be able to enroll in drug court as an alternative to spending time in jail or prison.
In some instances, drug offenders who did not commit violent crimes may be able to enroll in a state drug court program, instead of facing standard criminal consequences following a drug-related conviction. Should you gain entry into a drug court program, you can anticipate having to stay clean throughout its duration, and you can also plan on undergoing drug testing throughout in addition to appearing regularly before a judge. So, do drug court programs actually work?
Statistics surrounding drug court effectiveness
According to the National Institute of Justice, a 10-year study of one American drug court program revealed some key findings about the program’s overall effectiveness. While the primary intent of drug courts is to help participants beat their addictions, statistics show there are some other key benefits associated with these programs.
For starters, participating in drug courts make participants significantly more likely to live crime-free lifestyles moving forward. One study, for example, showed that the felony re-arrest rate for drug court participants fell from 50% to 35% two years after offenders completed drug court, while another study showed that the re-arrest rate fell from 40% to 12%.
While drug courts can offer clear benefits for Wisconsin residents who are struggling with drug addictions, they can also benefit your entire community. How? When you compare the costs of putting an offender through drug court with the costs associated with standard criminal justice system processing, the cost of placing an offender in drug court is an average of $1,392 lower.
If you, like so many others, believe that your addiction is the root of your criminal behavior, find out whether enrolling in drug court may be an option for you.
