AN ELECTION PRIMER: FOLLOW THE MONEY

As voters in local elections, we are encouraged to find out what positions our candidates hold on issues that directly affect our community and what solutions and resources they bring to the table. It is no surprise we have a huge drug problem in Carbon County. Progress has been made, but our prison remains overcrowded with many who have committed nonviolent crimes related to drug and alcohol addiction and are repeat offenders.

The largest expense for taxpayers in Carbon County is funding our prison. On average, for 200 inmates our cost is $4.7 million a year. They need to be in rehabilitation, not in jail where taxpayers pay around $65 a day for their stay and offenders do not receive the treatment that will help them become and stay drug free. In August 2012 the Carbon County Correctional Facility Research Committee was formed by a few volunteers interested in helping the prison reduce its return rate, its overcrowding, and its costs to taxpayers. In May 2013 our committee presented our report. Our recommendation was to institute a drug court. Drug Court is a special court given the responsibility to handle cases involving less serious drug using offenders through a supervision and treatment program.

These programs include frequent drug testing, judicial and probation supervision, drug treatment counseling, educational opportunities and the use of sanctions and incentives. It ensures consistency in judicial decision-making, coordination of agencies and resources, cost effectiveness through alternatives to prison time, efficient case management, accountability through drug testing, and the use of progressive sanctions. Extensive research over 20 years has shown that Drug Courts reduce crime, save money, ensure compliance and restore families. Drug courts produce cost savings ranging from $3,000 to $13,000 per client and are reflected in reduced prison costs, reduced revolving door arrests and trials, and reduced victimization.

Before you go to the polls this year, do your homework. Check out all our candidates and see which ones are willing to take a leadership role in implementing a drug court in Carbon County.

Leta L. Thompson, Ph.D.,

Carbon County Correctional Facility Research Committee Chairwoman