Assignment Task:
The United States justice system created the first drug court in 1989 to arrest, prosecute, and imprison persons convicted of drug crimes. This was done in part to deal with the increasing number of drug-related cases being brought to the courts and also to address a criminal's underlying substance addiction. The hope is to reduce the likelihood of recidivism by compelling offenders to receive treatment for their drug problems. While the popularity and success of these programs is still up for debate, studies have shown some instances where there is a decrease in repeat offenses from drug court participants compared to similar offenders who do not receive treatment, and a significant cost savings to the criminal justice system.
Should drug offenders be offered this type of rehabilitation in lieu of a prison sentence? Explain.