A pilot program employed since September has prompted 80 percent of drug offenders to seek treatment. Before the pilot program, drug abusers had no incentive to get treatment, said Steve Wright, assistant district attorney.
Supervisors voted 5-0 to pass the funding plan for a new drug court that emphasizes treatment instead of confinement.
The program will save the county money over the long run: Confinement is expensive, and successful treatment will prevent crime, resulting in savings in law enforcement and court costs, Wright said.
The plan costs about $356,214 for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30 and was an unorthodox move by the board, which rarely adds new jobs in the middle of a budget year.
The funding will pay for one district attorney and one public defender as well as staff members. All will be assigned to the drug court. It’s being paid for with excess money from the county’s Proposition 172 allocation, which pays for law enforcement programs. Other funding is from the county’s Department of Behavioral Health and county revenues.
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