Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

9-29-2008

SSRN Discipline

PSN Subject Matter eJournals; *Humanities - Forthcoming Areas; Religious Studies Research Network; LSN Subject Matter eJournals; ERN Subject Matter eJournals; Economics Research Network; Legal Scholarship Network; PRN Subject Matter eJournals; Criminal Law & Procedure eJournals; Philosophy Research Network; Law School Research Papers - Legal Studies; Law & Society eJournals; Law & Society: Public Law eJournals; Law School Research Papers - Public Law & Legal Theory; Political Institutions eJournals; Humanities Network; Political Science Network; Health Law eJournals

Abstract

A drug court is an alternative process in the criminal justice system for eligible nonviolent drug offenders that focuses on treatment and allows successful defendants to avoid prison time and a criminal record This article first provides a snapshot of the availability of drug courts both nationwide and in Alabama and presents two strong arguments supporting the drug court alternative The first argument summarizes the substantial evidence indicating that the drug court alternative costs taxpayers substantially less money and enhances public safety The second and even more compelling argument illustrates that the moral principles of JudeoChristian ethics which require laws to be compassionate towards the sick and support the reasonable opportunity of each person to reach their potential as well as condemn oppressive laws imposing excessive punishment compel all Alabamians of faith to insist that political leaders adopt an appropriate plan that implements drug courts on all sixtyseven of the states counties

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