About 80% of all juvenile and adult offenders face arrest and incarceration for drug addiction and substance use crimes. After serving in prisons, around 95% of the addicts go back to drugs or alcohol. Approximately 60-80% of them eventually commit crimes again.
This article explores why addicts commit many crimes and why incarceration isn’t always the ideal solution. It also suggests an alternative for the addicts’ problems.
Understanding Court-Ordered Rehab
Court ordered rehab is an alternative to a jail term for a person whose illegal actions involve alcohol or drug abuse. A judge mandates the person to participate in a rehabilitation or treatment program as an aspect of the court ruling. And this can replace jail time or a condition for parole, probation, or release.
Research indicates that court-ordered rehab works the same as voluntary rehabilitation, and it’s better than incarceration. Essentially, incarceration responds to a crime without focusing on the problem’s root. Thus, a jail term doesn’t address the addiction that leads to criminal behavior.
Most courts in the United States can send substance-abusing offenders to rehabilitation. However, some courts specialize in reviewing drug offenses. And the country has more than 3,100 such courts operating today. These institutions can offer an offender a lighter sentence or an incarceration alternative if they accept to enroll in a court-mandated rehab.
As per the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, this justice reform is the most successful intervention in the nation’s history. Further, these professionals say that treatment courts have drawn more individuals to treatment than other interventions. Individuals with substance use disorders can start their stability and recovery lives instead of going to jail.
The Principles of Court-Ordered Treatment Programs
Court-ordered drug treatment programs have some peculiarities. For instance, the judge decides if a defendant meets the critical treatment criteria. And such measures can include:
- The defendant committed a non-violent crime due to drug or alcohol abuse.
- It is the defendant’s first or second offense.
- The defendant has pleaded guilty and agreed to undergo addiction treatment.
- The defendant can benefit from rehabilitation.
Once the judge confirms the defendant’s eligibility, they advise them about the program. Also, they sign to prove their commitment to complete the treatment program by signing an agreement. The agreement binds them to stop using any addictive substance during the treatment period.
The entire treatment lasts between 3 and 12 months, including regular judicial interactions. Also, the defendant undergoes obligatory and random drug or alcohol tests. The court appoints officials to evaluate and monitor the participant’s progress while measuring the effectiveness.
The case goes to conventional processing that may lead to incarceration if the offender fails to abstain from drugs or alcohol, gives up on the court-mandated therapy, or quits rehabilitation. The participant’s success leads to the charge reduction or the original charge dismissal.
Facilities for Defendants
The drug courts allow defendants to access several services upon joining a rehabilitation program. For instance, the defendant can get outpatient or inpatient services. Nevertheless, the program provides cognitive behavioral therapy and detoxification.
Usually, the defendant finances the treatment. But health insurance may cover the total rehabilitation cost or part of it. Additionally, some centers provide payment fees or plans on a sliding scale basis.
How Court-Ordered Treatment Benefits the Defendants
As per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most studies illustrate that legally mandated drug treatment brings positive results. Here’s how this treatment benefits the participant.
- Medically-assisted treatment: The patient receives around-the-clock supervision instead of quitting drugs or alcohol cold turkey, which can be hazardous. Also, detoxification helps them flush out the harmful chemicals from the body.
- Survival skills: Apart from medical treatment, court-ordered alcohol counseling equips the patients with skills that help them avoid a relapse. Group and individual therapy sessions enable the patient to discover tricks and tips for preventing triggers, coping with temptations, and staying sober.
- No crime record: When an offender completes the program, the court may remove their crime from the public record.
How Court Mandated Rehabilitation Benefits Society and the Government
The annual drug abuse cost in the United States exceeds $740 billion due to legal and crime fees, healthcare, and lost productivity. Court-ordered rehabilitation substantially saves prisons’ financial load and crime rate reduction.
When addicts receive court-appointed treatment, they are less re-arrested than those who don’t. Also, their re-conviction for crimes is lower, with only 30% getting new jail term sentences compared to 51% of inmates who don’t enter rehab. And lower crime rates benefit the community.
Rehab Is Better Than Jail Term
Many addicts commit crimes not knowing the severity of their addiction problem, meaning they may not consider rehabilitation. When the court requires them to undergo treatment and appear in a rehab facility, they evaluate their sober life and seek assistance to change it for the better. Therefore, a person that commits a crime because of substance addiction can benefit from court-mandated therapy instead of a jail term.