Post Adjudicatory Expansion Drug Courts

Getting tough on substance abuse and smart on crime.

Prison populations have exploded with non-violent felony offenders whose crimes are related to their substance abuse and addiction. Sending these people to prison is costly, and does nothing to help them deal with their substance abuse disorder. As a result, 75% of these people will simply find themselves back in prison within a few years of release. Alternatively, 80% of people who graduate from a drug court are less likely to go to prison. Drug courts are tough on substance abuse, smart on crime, and much less expensive than incarceration, reduce recidivism, and save lives.

Florida’s Adult Post-Adjudicatory Drug Court Expansion Program deals with the underlying problem of substance abuse and addiction. In 2009 the Florida Legislature appropriated Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) stimulus funding to the Office of the State Courts Administrator to expand adult post-adjudicatory drug courts to target offenders who would otherwise have been sent to prison.

Expansion drug courts are already saving Florida money. Expansion drug courts are averaging approximately $20 per person per day. According to the Department of Corrections, housing non-violent offenders in prison for FY 11-12 costs $49.24 per person per day. As of February 2013, expansion drug courts have already saved Florida more than $8.7 million in prison costs alone.

As of February 27, 2013, there have been people admitted into the drug court expansion program. Most drug courts take 12-18 months to complete. There have been 624 successful graduates to date.

As noted above, this program is currently funded by a federal grant. When the grant period expires in June 2013, the State will have to decide if it will provide continued support for this program.