Your Drug Court Needs Your Help!

Subject: $45 million for Drug Courts

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I am writing to urge you to support a funding level of $45 million for the Department of Justice Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program for the fiscal year (FY) 2010. Drug Courts are a vital tool in combating drug abuse, addiction, and crime in our nation. This funding also is critical to expand Drug Courts and ensure fidelity to the Drug Court model.

Drug Courts are a collaborative, comprehensive, and proven effective resource to our national drug control strategy. In fact, there has been more research published on the effects of Drug Courts than on virtually all other criminal justice programs combined. That research includes a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that concluded that Drug Courts reduce crime, recidivism rates for offenders, and save money for taxpayers. (GAO-05-219). Additionally, the Department of Justice issued a report confirming that Drug Courts are a critical part of our national strategy against methamphetamine abuse. Research continues to demonstrate definitive evidence for the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Drug Courts. Recently the Urban Institute, in a report about the prospects of expanding Drug Courts, estimated a cost/benefit ratio as high as $3.36 for every $1.00 invested in treating drug-addicted offenders in a Drug Court program. When considering savings from reduced victimization and reduced healthcare service utilization, studies have reported an economic benefit as high as $12 for every dollar invested.

It is an undisputable fact that Drug Courts work. These programs strike a proper balance between the need to protect community safety and the need to improve public health; between the need for treatment and the need to hold people accountable for their actions; between hope on the one hand and productive citizenship on the other. It is vital to our nation's families, communities, and drug control strategy to put a Drug Court within reach of every American who needs one. That is why I urge you to support a funding level for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program at a minimum of $45 million for FY 2010.

Thank you for your consideration of this essential funding.