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On Thursday afternoon, four people will appear before Dauphin County President Judge Richard Lewis. They will be the first defendants sentenced in the county's new "Drug Court." The program is designed to end an addict's life of crime.
Prosecutors are excited about the program's potential.
"This concept has worked effectively in other jurisdictions," said Dauphin County First Assistant District Attorney Francis Chardo.
But not every drug or alcohol offender is eligible to participate in the program. No drug dealers can apply. Someone convicted of a violent crime or a weapons charge during the past ten years is also ineligible.
Drug Court is for users only. It emphasizes treatment over jail time, with the goal of bringing repeat offenses to an end.
"There's going to be input from the provider of the drug treatment," said Chardo. "A person evaluating the individual from the probation office, from the lawyers from both sides and the judge in determining how intensive a drug treatment program is warranted."
Dauphin County Criminal Justice Administrator Stephen Libhart expects about 150 offenders a year to go through the program.
"One of the conditions for acceptance is they enter a guilty plea and take responsibility for whatever their charge is," said Libhart.
Participants are required to make weekly court appearances, so Judge Lewis can evaluate their progress. They must also wear high-tech bracelets that monitor their whereabouts and insure they stay clean. Libhart warned that a slip-up could land them in jail.
"So if somebody would enter this program thinking it's an easy way out and not adhere to the tenants of this program, they're going to end up right where they would have been, regardless," he said.
The program takes 18 to 24 months to complete. In some cases, that's longer than a jail sentence. But court officials are confident it gives repeat offenders a better chance at a better life.
"All the studies have shown that this sort of program can yield great successes," said Chardo. "This is a way to break that cycle of addiction and recurring crime for an individual."
The Drug Court program is funded through a $185,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Drug or Alcohol Abusers will never benefit from this program.. the person must first admit to him/herself that they have a problem and want to do something about it.. I'm afraid running these persons thru these programs will have a very limited effect vs the costs. I've seen persons I know go thru these rehab detox programs even to the extent of camps for a few months. If the program keeps them in a facility where they are not free it may make more of an effect.. over all I'll be surprised if it's much better than prison for the general public. ABC27 keep this on the Follow up next yr list.
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