Friday, April 16, 1999
County pushes for 2nd drug court
Figures show 1st one working well, they say
BY DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's as simple as one, two, 10.
People who successfully complete Hamilton County's drug court program have less than a one-in-10 chance of being rearrested on drug-related charges, court records show.
So Hamilton County officials are trying to double the number of drug courts, from one to two.
County Commissioner John Dowlin has written a letter to Thomas J. Moyer, chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, asking for his support in having a second drug court judge appointed to the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
Mr. Dowlin said drug court has been successful during its initial four years and should be expanded.
Court records seem to back him up.
The average recidivism rate nationwide for drug cases is about 75 percent — meaning that three of four people convicted on drug charges are rearrested on a similar charge after being released from jail.
But out of the 357 people who have “graduated” from drug court since 1996 — meaning they did not go to jail so they could enter a court-ordered treatment program — only 34 have been rearrested, according to court records.
“Instead of sitting in jail at a cost of $55 per day, they're out there working,” Mr. Dowlin said. “They're paying taxes, supporting families and getting over their addictions.”
There are two ways a new drug court judge could be appointed:
• The legislature could create a new judgeship for the county, but would look to Chief Justice Moyer for his blessing first.
• Chief Justice Moyer could appoint a new judge to Hamilton County on a temporary basis, either short-term or long-term.
Drug court judge Deidra Hair said there is a need for a second drug court judge.
“People (who would qualify for drug court) are being turned away,” Judge Hair said. “I don't think we'll run out of clients.”
A second drug court judge would cost about $500,000 per year. Half of that can be paid for out of a Community Development Block Grant that the county shares with the city. Most of the rest could be paid for with money from the state.
Mr. Dowlin said no money from the general fund would be used to pay for the second judgeship.
Drug court offers rehabilitation over jail. The idea for it grew out of Ohio's “truth in sentencing” law, which eliminated early parole for prisoners' good behavior.
So, the thought behind drug courts was to get addicts into rehabilitation centers, rather than having them occupy beds in jail. That makes more room for violent criminals behind bars.
And, since many property crimes such as theft are related to drug addiction, curing the drug problem, in theory, eliminates secondary crimes.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen said his office supports the program — “as long as it doesn't stray from its original mission of treating drug-dependent people.”
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