Seven Participants Graduate Dauphin County Drug Court

The Dauphin County Drug Court program held a graduation ceremony February 19, 2015 for seven participants who successfully completed its intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. This is the largest number of graduates in a single ceremony to date!

Since July 2008, when the District Attorney’s Office, Adult Probation, Public Defender, Human Services, Department of Drug and Alcohol Services and the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas devised the rigorous program to transition offenders from chemical dependency to recovery, a total of 64 individuals, including those graduating this week, have completed the program. Drug Court has saved the county a minimum of 41,809 of days – equivalent to 114.5 years – in jail and more than $2.4 million in incarceration costs by offering intermediate punishment and treatment in lieu of jail time. This rigorous 18- to 24-month program makes economic sense – saving county taxpayer dollars on prison costs – and it makes human sense.

To graduate, participants must attend weekly court appearances, maintain employment, remain drug- and alcohol-free for a minimum of six months prior to graduation, complete all required treatment and maintain continuing treatment goals until supervision is concluded.

Drug Courts across the nation have served over 1.4 million people struggling with addiction and criminal justice system involvement. These programs significantly improve substance-abuse treatment outcomes and substantially reduce drug abuse and crime.