New Jersey Drug Court Program
Economic Impact
- Researchers have estimated1 that a baby born of a drug-addicted
mother will cost the medical and social systems between
$750,000 to 1.5 million dollars per baby. Thanks to
New Jersey’s
Drug Court Program, 48 drug-free babies were born to
formerly drug addicted mothers, saving
society between 36 and 72 million dollars.
- The RAND Corporation2 found that for heavy users of
cocaine, treatment costs one-seventh as much as enforcement
to achieve the same reduction in cocaine use.
- Every dollar spent on treatment leads to a $7.46 reduction
in crime-related spending and lost productivity, according
to a study conducted for the Office of National Drug Control Policy3.
- The State of Washington4 found that for every dollar
spent in drug court the Criminal Justice System benefits would
be $2.46.
- The State of Texas5 found that for every dollar spent
on upgrading drug treatment from the traditional method of adjudication
to drug treatment through DIVERT (drug) Court, $9.43
of costs can
be saved by society over
a 40 month period.
- California6, in a study conducted between January 2000
and September 2001, found that during that period the State’s
drug courts saved approximately $43 million in incarceration
costs alone and
collected almost $1 million in fees and fines from drug
court participants.
- In the State of New Jersey, drug court participants are expected
to obtain employment, pay penalties, taxes, child support
(if appropriate), victim restitution and otherwise meet financial
obligations.
1 Study by Christopher J. Kalotra for the Office of Justice Programs,
Drug Court Clearinghouse and Technical Assistance Project, American University,
March, 2001.
2 Rydell, C.Peter, and Susan S. Everingham, Controlling
Cocaine: Supply Versus Demand Programs, Santa Monica, CA.:RAND, MR-331-ONDCP/A/DPRC,
1994.
3 Drug Use Forecasting, Annual Report on Adult and Juvenile
Arrestees 1995, National Institute of Justice.
4 Washington State Institute for Public Policy, Olympia,
Wa., January, 1999.
5 Department of Economics at Southern Methodist University,
study published in August, 2002.
6 State of California, Administrative Office of the Courts,
2003.
