Major Expansion Of Dwi-Drug Courts Recommended
There are 31 drug courts in 18 of New Mexico's counties. They operate in District, Metropolitan and Magistrate Court levels. The recommendation is now on the table to establish them in all 33 counties.
"Drug Courts work. We have shown this with an excellent track record here in New Mexico. Our goal is to make sure that drug court services are available to every New Mexican who could benefit from them. Secondly, we want to make sure the courts have sustaining funds to keep them going," said Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Victoria Grant, the president of the New Mexico Association of Drug Court Professionals and the presiding judge of the Metropolitan Court Drug Courts.
"Drug courts have proven to be an extraordinarily effective tool in touching the lives of substance abusers because the program treats more than just addiction," said Chief Justice Richard Bosson of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Drug court professionals now have a five-year plan to accomplish both goals. It will be discussed at a news conference May 16 at 3 p.m. in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Ceremonial Courtroom. Because May is national Drug Court Month, the event will be observed with a DWI/Drug Court graduation presided over by Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Cristina Jaramillo.
The plan was created by the Drug Court Advisory Committee (DCAC) in 2005 as part of a mandate from the New Mexico Supreme Court. The Court has approved the plan and full funding is under consideration by the New Mexico State Legislature.
A drug court is a specially-designed program that combines judicial oversight with drug testing and substance abuse treatment. In addition, there is intense probationary supervision. The formula for this success was first used in the Dade County, FL, courts in 1989. Here in New Mexico, the first drug court was established in Las Cruces in 1994. The drug courts in operation in this state have success rates even better than the national average.
"The drug court program inspires responsibility in participants and the programs have shown remarkable success in reducing recidivism. Graduates emerge ready to make substantive, long-lasting changes in their lives," said Bosson. "Within three years after graduation, fewer than 12% re-offend. We want to extend this opportunity to all New Mexicans."
"We are looking at creating 18 new drug courts in underserved counties all around New Mexico. That kind of growth will cost about $6.15 million over the next four fiscal years," said Justice Bosson. "This plan also includes funding to make sure that existing drug courts have adequate funding to continue and expand their programs. We can reduce re-arrest rates to about one quarter of the national average. This is an investment in community safety we must make."
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