|
Support Full Funding for Drug Courts
The President has requested $69 million for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. A letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of full funding for drug courts has been authored by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D/HI) and Rep. Tom Osborne (R/NE). We are hoping to have 100 members of the House of Representatives sign this letter before it is delivered to the House Appropriations Committee in May. We need your help!
Please take a minute to send a letter to your Representative asking them to sign on to this letter. NADCP is working towards a similar letter in the U.S. Senate. After the drastic cuts in drug court funding last year, it is more important than ever that we raise our voices in unison!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Full Funding for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to ask that you sign a letter circulated by Congressman Tom Osborne (R/NE) and Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D/HI), encouraging the House Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Administration's request of $69 million for the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program in the Fiscal Year 2007 appropriations for the Department of Justice.
Just last year, over 16,000 individual graduated from drug courts nationally, over 70,000 individuals are being served at any one time, and over 840 drug-free babies were born to drug court clients.
Drug courts are a proven effective tool in the fight against substance abuse and crime. In February 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report to the Congress confirming that drug courts are an effective tool in reducing recidivism.
Most importantly, drug courts are one of the most effective tools we have in addressing the methamphetamine epidemic that is destroying our communities. Law enforcement and manufacturing restrictions have had a positive impact on our ability to deal with this epidemic, but a critical third part of our strategy must involve the treatment of the thousands of addicted individuals who enter our court systems.
Drug courts are unprecedented in their ability to effectively intervene with the methamphetamine-abusing population. Across the country, drug courts are having great success with the methamphetamine addicted population. In June 2005, the Department of Justice released a bulletin confirming this and showing that they are a critical part of our strategy with methamphetamine.
Despite these successes, last year the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program was reduced by $30 million. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals estimates that over 10,000 individuals will not receive drug court treatment as a result of these cuts. Over 10,000 individuals will continue to use drugs such as methamphetamine and will continue to commit crime. Hundreds more babies will be born addicted to dangerous drugs. We must not let this happen again.
Again, I urge you to sign the letter circulated by Congressmen Osborne and Abercrombie. For further information please contact Jeremiah Blake in Congressman Osborne's office at 202-225-6435, or Blaine Saito in Congressman Abercrombie's office at 202-225-2726. Thank you for your consideration of this most important program.
Sincerely,
|
