5,786 human beings are incarcerated in Idaho. Almost one-fourth of them are young people under age 26. Idaho taxpayers are spending $400,000 every day to house these offenders. Eighty percent of our criminal acts involve drugs and/or alcohol. It is evident that the dark clouds of criminal activity are driven by substance abuse.

Addiction is no longer just a "moral problem." Overcoming this physiological and psychological dependence is not simply a matter of straightening up and quitting. If ever there were an offense that deserved treatment rather than just punishment, drug abuse would be the one.

Because of the magnitude and the uniqueness of illicit drug abuse, Idaho has established a specialized process for handling drug-related offenses. Fremont and Madison Counties were among the first to implement these drug courts and because of their success, Idaho now has 31 drug courts in 25 counties. Magistrate Judge Keith Walker and District Judge Brent Moss have been pioneers in reducing recidivism of alcohol and drug offenders through their drug courts. They have removed defendants from the clogged courtrooms of our traditional criminal justice system and relieved the demand on our over-crowded jails. They have held defendants accountable for their actions, helping them achieve long-term recovery to become law-abiding citizens and successful family and community members.

Incarceration of drug-using offenders costs Idaho over $25,000 per person, per year. The capital costs of building a prison cell can be as much as $80,000. In contrast, a comprehensive drug court system costs about $3,000 annually for each offender. Such savings have prompted President George W. Bush to state, "Drug courts are an effective and cost efficient way to help non-violent drug offenders commit to a rigorous drug treatment program in lieu of prison."

The drug court is a completely voluntary program designed to emphasize treatment instead of incarceration. It consists of four phases of intensive supervision by a probation officer, frequent appearances before the drug court judge, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling, regular attendance at self-help groups such as AA, and random drug testing. It takes at least a year to complete the program. I have observed recovering addicts shed tears of joy while thanking Judge Moss for "saving their lives" and giving them reason to live. I was inspired when a man about my own age beamed with pride as Judge Walker praised him for his conduct that week—conduct most of us would not have considered particularly exceptional. I couldn’t help but think that Judge Walker’s positive reinforcement was probably the first he had ever received. After making his report, the participant shared with everyone present a cherry pie he had baked himself to celebrate his own birthday. His way of rejoicing in his accomplishments with the encouraging and caring judge he had grown to love and respect.

The Idaho Drug Court Institute held its first statewide meeting in Idaho Falls this month. Madison and Fremont Counties were well-represented among the judges, probation officers, social workers, counselors, and other drug court team members who attended. I praise these individuals for their dedication to this program that has saved money, saved lives, and made our communities better places in which to live. In a stormy atmosphere of crime, violence and terrorism, a silver lining exists in the form of Idaho’s drug courts.

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