The Effects of Drug Court on Public Policy is a Driving Force for Change
by Drug court is an exciting new approach to dealing with drug crime and how it drives public policy. There are many factors that contribute toward change in the criminal justice system and the drive behind legislature and the policies that address this issue. Effective measures of dedicated policy makers and criminal justice leaders, along with the court system work with offenders to deal with the core issue as to the root of the problem and a solution. This involves the corporation of the offenders in their rehabilitation.
Another example is a man in Miami, Florida before the first drug court model was introduced here. (http://www.ncjrs.gov/spotlight/drugcourts/Summary.html) Let’s say he has been arrested for drugs and domestic violence. In the past he served his sentence without any additional services. He serves his time and is back out on the street again without having the opportunity to change with rehabilitative services, such as additional programs in prison. Later he commits the same crimes again and is incarcerated. The difference this time instead of being in a general population he might be in a rehabilitate facility jail. There he might be diagnosed for mental and substance abuse problems and is placed on medication for a mental illness. While he is still in incarceration again he has additional resources not previously available for him. This is s good contrast for comparing previous policies and criminal justice court systems and the current drug court systems. As one can see, the possibilities are there for reform. He still receives punishment and has to reckon with the responsibility of his actions but now he will have a chance to understand and to change his future after incarceration.
The tools of change are present and available for offenders. This is also important in after their release. There should be a constant monitoring for a reasonable time in order to prevent further criminal activities and the move toward contributing to a healthy involvement in ones community. There are various examples of reformed citizens who have and function in serving others in their community to be better places to live and work. They are on TV(Judge Joe, Fox Network, Dog, The Bounty Hunter, A&E) While these serve to motivate and inspire change on a visible level, it is important to understand the different levels of change that is perhaps not that visible but is happening never less. Change is something that inspires others and is a continual involvement of community leaders and public policy relating to drug courts and great results for offenders. Possibly they will be helped and by this intervention and be a partner in this drug court movement of change. Being committed to change and utilizing the available tools is crucial to the implementation of this policy. Not all offenders rehabilitate but for the ones who are driven to change and peer into the causes of their action and seek help in ending this potential habitual criminal behavior, this will be contributing to the future of a better community as a whole for societal change. After all it affects all of us whether on an individual level or as a community.
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