Make Payment
Call Today
(952) 913-1421
Call Today
(952) 913-1421

Drug treatment courts cut down likelihood to reoffend

According to a new study offenders who have committed drug crimes and have gone through a drug treatment court are not as likely to reoffend as those who participate in adjudication processes that lack addiction treatment. Criminal sentences that do not address addiction are more expensive because they do not address the underlying issue according to one doctor who reviewed the study.

Drug courts have been expanding around the country for years and today more than 60 percent of the jurisdictions in the United States have drug courts. Drug courts are a specialized legal forum where offenders admit guilt to drug crimes and if the offenders are found to have a substance abuse issue, they can then participate in a substance abuse program that is jointly run by the court.

Offenders who participate in the substance abuse program have case managers, submit to random drug testing and regularly appear before the court. The programs range from six to 12 months, and if offenders successfully complete the program then their charges or penalties are reduced or dismissed.

Drug court programs are generally believed to be beneficial, and the study was conducted to test that belief. The study compared the experiences of drug offenders who participated in drug court with similar drug offenders who did not participate in drug court for a period of five years. Offenders who participated in the program were not as likely to commit a new crime. Offenders who participated in the program and committed another crime took a longer amount of time to reoffend than those who do not participate in drug court. Participants reoffended in 614 days and nonparticipants reoffended in 460 days.

Source: Medscape News, “Drug Court cuts recidivism, keeps offenders out of jail,” Kate Johnson, 4/21/11

Max Keller image
Attorney Max Keller
Max Keller

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Cinematic Court of Law and Justice Trial Proceedings. Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.
Court of Justice Trial. Pre-Trial Motions Hearing

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.
Man in handcuffs. Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.