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For Current Issues- Drug Courts
UCM Public Action Meeting November 6, 2005 Presentation
Drug Courts………………………………………………………………Jo’Anna Watts
I’m Jo’Anna Watts of the United Presbyterian Church in Granite City.
Drug Courts have always been a priority with UCM! We set up a Drug Free Communities Task Force to address the problems that drugs and alcohol bring to individuals who become addicted and support the intervention programs for our young people.
I have the honor of serving with the dedicated men and women of this Task Force.
Our goal is to make a difference! When the Madison Country Drug Court was threatened with closure due to budget cuts, UCM mounted a campaign and we were successful in keeping the Drug Court funded. We Stood Up! We Spoke Up!
Our Task Force attends all graduation ceremonies of the Madison Country Drug Court and we have listened to the stories of the participants and how their lives were affected by their addiction, and the joy they shared with us after successfully completing this program. We bear witness to the success of Drug Courts!
Drug Courts offer a holistic approach to first time offenders of non-violent crimes, with the opportunity to become drug or alcohol free, develop job skills and learn new attitudes that enable them to break the cycle of addiction and crime. Treatment, incentives and sanctions are the very core of Drug Courts.
Are you thinking – that all sounds good, but how much does it cost?
Incarceration of drug using offenders costs between $20,000 and $50,000 per person, per year. In contrast, a comprehensive Drug Court system typically costs between $2500 and
$4000 annually for each offender. Nation wide evaluations have shown that for every dollar invested in Drug Courts, ten dollars are saved by corrections.
Now I would like to call upon Madison County States Attorney Bill Mudge to speak on the benefits of the Madison County Drug Court. Bill, please come forward.
I would also like to recognize Chief Judge Edward Ferguson, the presiding Judge of the Madison County Drug Court. Please stand Judge.
The UCM Drug Task Force has been working with St. Clair County officials in an effort to establish a Drug Court for their citizens. Chief Judge Jan Fiss, Judge Annette Eckert
and other court officers are committed to make this happen. Let me introduce them to you. Please stand when I call your name.
Chief Judge Jan Fiss
Judge Milton Wharton
Judge John Baricevik.
Judge Patrick Young
Judge Annette Eckert
Judge James Radcliff
Director of Probation – Mr. Ron Schaefer
A big round of applause for all these dedicated St. Clair County officials.
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