Senator Rosen Proposes Funding to Save Hancock County Drug Court

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2008

Augusta – On Wednesday Senator Richard Rosen testified before a joint hearing of the Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committee. At issue was state funding for the Hancock County Deferred Sentencing Project (HCDSP).

The HCDSP has operated as a private enterprise since its inception. The people of Hancock County saw a need and moved to meet it. The court was created in 2004 entirely through a grass roots effort. With the work of community leaders and support from county commissioners the program used grants and private contributions to operate. This year they were given $150,000 dollars for the 2009 fiscal year.

Rosen stated, “87% of those enrolled in the program have completed it successfully with all 87% either employed or enrolled in school. These results exceed those of adult drug courts nationally. The court has saved the state almost $270,000 as of May 2007. The program saves the state more than it costs to run.”

“For those addicted to drugs isn’t it better to work through treatment and return to society as a productive citizen rather then having them become hardened repeat offenders? Don’t force the HCDSP to close its doors please vote to keep this important court open so that the people it serves continue to benefit from a less expensive more successful way to prosecute drug offenders.”

To fund the court Senator Rosen proposed cutting the budgets of various public relations accounts in a variety of State departments. Senator Rosen presented the September 27, 2007 editorial from the Bucksport Enterprise as a funding model for the cost of the court. “If having state agencies issue a few less press releases saves $150,000, I think the drug courts a better more productive use of the money.”

“With the money saved by cutting this duplicate funding in various agencies, we can fund a court that saves the State money and improves our local communities. As the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court stated in her State of the Judiciary deferred sentencing saves lives.” Senator Rosen said

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