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Drug Courts Help Ease Spike in Arkansas' Prison Population

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime & Justice News, May 20, 2008

"While prison officials are hard-pressed to explain a

recent spike in the prison population, one thing they

do know is that without the 39 drug courts in Arkansas

the number of inmates behind bars would be much

higher, reports the Arkansas News Bureau. Since the

number of drug courts were expanded in 2003, the

program has become such a success that legislation

is being developed for the 2009 session to add up to

two more in eastern Arkansas and to add juvenile

drug courts.

Nearly 1,000 people have graduated from the

program, according to the Arkansas Department of

Community Corrections, and about 1,600 are enrolled

in programs across the state. That's 2,600 diverted

from the state's chronically overcrowded prisons. The

program also saves the state money, according to a

recent legislative audit, which found it costs the state

$9.96 a day for each participant, while the state

spends $54.82 a day for inmates."

Arkansas News Bureau - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0012JJF05HfmyyvSSsHmC_gnE_lzffJuC8FBKLqlIODBrlSvarqxK5QeyaKUNIGnY-U8sFKMZd7TTndul-OIJZenASDtDhpqyIvP7rZryW00zeJGz-qUOamEC6Ncv10iCHGYQTqlcCpqIBndioSL9sMCI87cshtJBEfCXpYizf7KhOXN0XqDEUOJw==

 

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on May 20, 2008 (boomark / email).