Alexandria, Va. -- The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), representing 21,000 justice officials and community leaders, will issue a challenge to every American citizen and elected officials to make a public commitment now to take Drug Courts to scale at its 2008 Annual Training Conference, May 28-31, at the America's Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Mo.  

NADCP will also be urging the U.S. Presidential candidates, Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain, to vow that if elected President they will work to drastically increase federal funding for Drug Courts to reach an estimated 1.47 million nonviolent offenders in the American criminal justice system in need of this proven antidote to substance abuse and associated crime.

Drug Courts hold nonviolent drug offenders accountable for their actions and offer effective treatment services under the close supervision of a specially trained judge and court team. According to a new study conducted by The Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center, "To Treat or Not to Treat: Evidence on the Prospects of Expanding Treatment to Drug-Involved Offenders," findings show that:

• $515 million dollars (of which only a fraction is federal) is spent annually on 55,000 Drug Court participants, yielding a substantial reduction in crime and more than $1 billion dollars in annual cost savings;
• There are 1.47 million arrestees who are legally and clinically eligible for Drug Court;
• Treating all eligible arrestees would cost $13.7 billion and return benefits of about $46 billion. The study finds this approach would save taxpayers $3.36 for every dollar invested.

"For a decade, the research on Drug Courts, spanning more than 100 program evaluations and at least five scientifically rigorous meta-analyses, has yielded definitive proof that Drug Courts significantly reduce crime and substance abuse, and produce greater cost-benefits than any other justice strategy. This incredible Urban Institute report ends the debate and provides the definitive rationale for putting Drug Courts, the most effective solution to drugs and crime, into every community in the U.S. and addressing the majority of addicted offenders who are driving crime and prison rates through the roof in America," said NADCP Chief Executive Officer West Huddleston.

"These nonviolent individuals can be safely and effectively managed in the community with the intense degree of treatment and supervision Drug Courts bring to bear. With prison overpopulation and severe budget deficits plaguing local and state correctional systems, expanding Drug Courts in a massive way is the only sensible thing to do. Drug Courts have literally been the passport to recovery and transformation for a million addicted offenders over the past 19 years. Now is the time to give that opportunity for recovery to 1.47 million people every year," said Huddleston.

National Drug Court Conference Highlights:

Now in its 14th year, the NADCP Annual Drug Court Training Conference will convene over 3,000 judges, prosecutors, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, probation and parole officers, and other justice professionals and community leaders from across the United States and abroad to learn the latest innovations and science to move the field forward. The theme of this year's conference is "Taking Drug Courts to Scale: Healthy Families Healing Communities."

"This year's theme captures the essence of the life-saving work we do," said NADCP Board Chair Judge Chuck Simmons. "We want America to know of our effectiveness in decreasing drugs and crime and making communities safer; in restoring broken citizens and ending the destructive cycle of addiction in families. That is what Drug Court is about."

The Opening Plenary Session on Thursday, May 29 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. will be an extraordinary celebration of the Drug Court professional's life-work. Special guest appearances and a performance by musical sensations Doug Fieger of "The Knack" and Elliot Easton of "The Cars," coupled with a national award presentation to Domingo Herraiz, director of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance, dynamic speakers, and heartfelt testimonials from Drug Court professionals, graduates and their families, will round out a perfect kick-off to three days of networking, learning, and professional growth. 

During the Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 29 from 12:00-1:30 p.m., Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the first drug court professional to reach the halls of Congress, will be given an award for her unrelenting support and leadership. In addition, Dr. Westley Clark, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, will receive a national award for expanding federal treatment funding for Drug Courts.

On Friday, May 30 at 11:00 a.m., retired General Barry McCaffrey, former director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (our nation's "Drug Czar"), with numerous Drug Court judges, prosecutors, and other professionals will hold a press conference to issue the challenge to every American citizen and elected official, as well as to the Presidential Candidates, to make a public commitment now to take Drug Courts to scale.

Finally, on Saturday, May 31 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., during the Closing Plenary Session, Dr. Terry Cline, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Golden Globe award-winning and Oscar-nominated actress Melanie Griffith will be keynote speakers.

The general public may register online at www.nadcp.org.