Alternatives To Incarceration

Alternatives to Incarceration….Drug Courts There is no doubt that the United States suffers from an increase in crime and more people than ever being incarcerated. The numbers are currently overwhelming. “A nonpartisan organization called The Pew Center on the States, released a study February 2008 that found the U.S. imprisoned both more people and a larger percentage of its adult population than any other country. According to the study, by The Pew Center 2.32 million people were currently incarcerated in the U.S., more than 1% of the total adult population of about 230 million. That number included 1.6 million people held in state and federal prisons, an increase of 25,000 over the previous year, as well as 723,000 people held in local
The Monroe County Program goals are as follows: to provide a fully integrated and comprehensive treatment program, to provide graduated levels of sanctions to defendants who are not in compliance with the program, to facilitate the acquisition or enhancement of academic, vocational, and pro-social skills, to reduce incarceration for defendants with serious substance abuse issues, and to reduce criminal justice costs, over the long run, by reducing drug addiction and street crime. The program is not designed to let the offender off “scott free” but one that holds the defendant accountable and teaches a life
“The findings by MGT of America were primarily that drug court funding should be trimmed and that the courts are not helping reduce the prison populations. Those statements no doubt got the attention of those who implemented the program, as well as legislators who may be looking to siphon off a few dollars for their own pet projects.” (Drug Courts: Program Due Study, not elimination Jan. 2008) Even some of the counties in Indiana have skeptics, some cuts in Federal grants are making it harder for Madison County to stay in operation. Tippecanoe County has stated that since May of 2003 to October 2006, “only nine people have graduated from the program, with four people withdrawing from the program.” With the program designed to rehabilitate offenders and keep the jail populations down, Madison County says the program is not helping to keep the numbers of its jails down. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings states, “the success of the Drug Court depends on how success is measured, adding it is a worthwhile program. It is not fair to measure the drug court by the failures, but by the successes. If one person is helped off an addiction it is worthwhile.” (La