Drug Court Opens in Ottawa

[Hunter]

I just heard on the radio that today a new court program aimed at drug addicts opened today.  Apparently the program is supposed to help keep addicts out of jail for petty crime, as long as they pass drug tests and show up when required. 

The rationale for this, according to the spokesman, is that "often these people can't make bail because they're too addicted or get into too much trouble".  I'm no expert, but it would seem to me that the interests of these people would be best served by doing their time?  It would keep them from getting into further trouble by committing more petty crime, and it would also be easier to monitor their drug rehabilitation.

Any thoughts on this?  I'm particularly interested to hear what zipperhead_cop and others in law enforcement think about it.

 

[Guy. E]

From what I learnt in Law and Psychology before graduating high school:

I don't have the figures for what it costs to keep people in gaol these days, however, its not cheep. If there is a way that you can keep them out of gaol (saving the govt $$$) and out of trouble (usually caused by the drugs) then you are accomplishing your goal. Allot of the time when people go to prisons, they come out harder and more refined criminals due to gangs, substance abuse or because of the inviroment.

What I'm trying to say is if you are just a petty criminal and or substance abuser, you have better chances of rehabilitation outside of prison which is also cheaper then prison.