Governor Christie Pushing for Drug Court as Sentencing Option
Governor Chris Christie has released a new initiative to allow judges to force drug offenders into a drug court program instead of jail. According to a news report in The Express Times, the current volunteer program has had immense success in treating drug addiction. In fact, fewer than one in 10 drug graduates have been convicted on a new, indictable offense.
Individuals who disagree with the new initiative believe that the drug program is effective as a voluntary program, but will not work as a mandatory program. Getting help to treat an addiction is a personal choice that needs to be made voluntarily. Others, however, believe that a drug treatment program is a better alternative as a drug crime penalty than incarceration, even when it is forced on the defendant.
According to an October 2010 report on the effectiveness of the drug court system, only 16 percent of drug court graduates are arrested for a new, indictable offense; of those, 8 percent are convicted and only 4 percent are incarcerated anew. These statistics are particularly impressive considering that about 54 percent of individuals who have served prison time for their crimes are picked for another crime and 43 percent are convicted.
A skilled drug crime defense attorney can advise a defendant about which legal options make the most sense for them. In some cases, there are alternative sentencing options such as drug rehabilitation and community service instead of jail time. The drug crime defense attorneys in NJ at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of handling similar cases in New Jersey. If you or a loved one is facing drug possession charges in New Jersey, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 for a free consultation.
