Here Comes the Judge

I had dinner with Christine Durham, Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and several other judges. A number that surprised me is that 85% of all criminal prosecutions in the State involve drugs. This number would include crimes committed to get drug money or committed as a result of doing something stupid while on drugs. What a scourge.

One thing we are doing that seems to be working is drug court. In drug court, the offender is offered a supervised chance at rehabilitation, with the consequence of failure being jail. It seems to be working -- at a societal and actual cost far lower than incarceration. Recidivism rates are far lower among drug court attendees (even those who don't actually "graduate") than those who do the jail-only route.

I'm a believer in funding what works and defunding what doesn't. Having attended Judge Shumate's very successful drug court (spectator only), I have been a believer for a while. I plan on supporting Sen. Chris Butters Drug Offenders Reform Act.