H-4026.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2572
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Representatives Ballasiotes, Radcliff, Lambert, Costa, O'Brien, Tokuda, Cole, Dickerson, Kessler, Constantine and Wood
Read first time 01/15/98. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice & Corrections.
AN ACT Relating to treatment for alcoholism, intoxication, and drug addiction; adding a new section to chapter 70.96A RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that there is an increase in the jail and prison population that is directly attributable to the upsurge in the prosecution of drug charges and related crimes fueled by drug abuse.
(2) One innovative approach to handling this problem is a program that integrates substance abuse treatment with the processing of criminal cases. These programs, known as "drug courts," rely on the strong collaboration among judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and related supporting agencies, and a partnership with treatment agencies and other community organizations.
(3) Research demonstrates the effectiveness of treatment coupled with criminal justice intervention through drug courts. Drug courts are successful because there is:
(a) A reduction in criminal behavior resulting in fewer repeat offenders;
(b) Strict accountability and certainty of response to unacceptable behavior;
(c) Better use of limited jail space resulting in fewer addicted prisoners and more jail space for those who pose public safety risks;
(d) Improved delivery of treatment services resulting in more effective treatment for a significant population of substance abusers;
(e) Effective disease prevention and treatment resulting in better health status for substance abusers as well as prevention and treatment of infectious diseases; and
(f) Improved productivity because of greater employment and reduced dependence on social services and health systems.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70.96A RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department shall contract with counties operating drug courts for the provision of drug and alcohol treatment services. At least eighty percent of funds provided pursuant to this section shall be used for direct services to clients, with not more than ten percent to be used for administration and an outcome evaluation, including measures of recidivism and reoffense rates.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "drug court" means a court that has special calendars or dockets designed to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent, substance abusing offenders by increasing their likelihood for successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially supervised treatment; mandatory periodic drug testing; and the use of appropriate sanctions and other rehabilitation services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of . . . . . . dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of section 2 of this act.
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