Reform of probation and drugs -- Hawaii is leading the way --

[alfreda89]

Here's an article worth reading on H.O.P.E. -- Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement. Once again, a city is pointing out a new way to use old pieces of the puzzle and make something that works. This article starts slowly, but picks up steam. See what you think. If you like it, send the article to your rep and Senators -- I'm going to do so. And your local city council, and...

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12628

If you like this idea, it may be time to find the article on the New England town where the crime rate is dropping, and the family abuse problems are disappearing -- all because every agency connected to a call about domestic violence is dealt with -- nothing is swept away, no one waits until the next time.

If I remember to find it, I will send that article, too.

I have a new tag -- Working on a New America.

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. Of course, the real proof of the pudding will be in the long-term relapse rate -- any idea when this program was first implemented?

I wish you luck getting anyone in Texas to even LOOK at something which can be spun as "soft on drug users". And I don't mean that as sarcasm; I think we're going to be trailing-edge on this, as we tend to be with any non-testosterone-based approach to any issue.

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

H.O.P.E. appears to be a pilot program, since they're asking for an expansion of the program. This part of the article implies that a similar program in Lansing, MI is 25 years old:

Similar programs have worked elsewhere, as long as the sanctions were actually delivered; where the sanctions weren't delivered, they failed. There is little doubt that criminally active drug abusers will cut back their drug use drastically if they are convinced that using today means going to jail tomorrow. Project Sentry in Lansing, Michigan has been working smoothly for a quarter of a century; in an experiment in the District of Columbia Drug Court, the testing-and-sanctions track outperformed the mandatory-treatment track.

Oh, yes, I know Texas will be last in solving this problem. But if enough of us write about it to our congress critters, pointing out that in the long run, this will SAVE BIG BUCKS -- they'll finally start paying attention. We'll be on SS when it happens, probably...