They are also required to have a sponsor who will keep them on track. Drug courts work. And that is not just my opinion. Drug courts are effective at taking offenders with little previous treatment history and keeping them in treatment. That may be why drug courts are getting results.
Drug courts reduce recidivism.
Thirteen percent of the graduates of that program were reconvicted for a felony, compared to 60 percent of non-graduates and 55 percent of the comparison group. Drug courts also reduce future drug use. An average of ten percent of drug court participants have positive drug tests compared to 31 percent of those on probation. And drug courts are cost- effective. Just as important, scarce prison beds are freed up for violent criminals.