A Snohomish County judge and the county’s drug court administrator traveled to Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to put $40 million for drug courts back into next year’s federal budget.
Superior Court Judge George Bowden and administrator Karla Standefer on Thursday joined lawmakers and actor Martin Sheen in pushing for the federal money to be restored in the 2008 budget.U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., organized the event. The current budget proposal cut all federal drug court funding. Sheen, who starred as a U.S. president in TV’s “The West Wing,” showed up as a supporter of drug treatment programs.
“Drug courts work,” said Larsen, co-chairman of the House Methamphetamine Caucus. “I urge my colleagues to restore funding for drug courts and invest in a strategy that works for our communities.”
In Snohomish County, officials have begun cutting the number of people allowed into adult drug court, which Bowden oversees. The current number of about 150 participants will be reduced to half that over the next year because of funding problems.
The local judges are seeking more funds from the county executive and county council to hire an additional coordinator to screen and monitor candidates.
“Our program reflects the crisis for drug courts across the country,” said Bowden, who was in Washington, D.C., for a drug court training session. “The more federal funding the more attention we draw.”
Earlier, Bowden said the county’s success rate is impressive with a 94 percent success rate getting addicts into treatment and keeping them from committing new crimes.
Drug courts are voluntary programs that strive to help addicts who say they want to get off drugs, stop committing crimes to support their habits and resume productive lives.
It costs more than $7,000 for an average 18-month program in Snohomish County. That includes frequent monitoring, drug treatment and participation in support groups.
Drug courts have been recognized as an effective weapon against methamphetamine, Larsen said. In 2005, the Justice Department released a report confirming that drug courts are an important part of the strategy against methamphetamine abuse, the Everett Democrat said.
Also attending were Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., as well as former national drug czar Barry McCaffrey.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
