Treatment Court Facts January 2016

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by  Missouri State Courts, Office of State Courts Administrator, Drug Courts Coordinating Commission

Commission Members
JUDGE GEORGE W. DRAPER, III
JUDGE LAWRENCE MOONEY
Treatment Court Facts JUDGE MARCO ROLDAN
COMMISSIONER PEGGY DAVIS
GEORGE LOMBARDI-CORRECTIONS
Drug Courts Coordinating Commission STEPHEN SOKOLOFF-PUBLIC SAFETY
MARK STRINGER-MENTAL HEALTH
BRIAN KINKADE-SOCIAL SERVICES

Problems Treatment Courts Can Help Address Return on Investment in Treatment Courts
 In 2014, Missouri was second in the nation with 1,045 meth-  Incarceration: Potential incarceration cost savings or
lab incidents. cost avoidance for 1,379 adult offenders diverted
 As of December 31, 2014, there were 31,942 offenders in from state prisons is about $10 million.
Missouri state prisons. Of these, 7,005 had drug or DWI  Probation: Initially, drug courts are more expensive
convictions. than regular probation. However, due to the higher
 From October 2014 to September 2015, 3,292 children were recidivism rate for probation, savings result in the
removed from their homes as a result of caretaker drug or second year. Based on a city of St. Louis cost-benefit
alcohol use. analysis, after two years, the state gains $2.80 for
each $1 spent on drug courts. After four years, the
Why Treatment Courts? state gains $6.32 for each $1 spent on drug courts.
 They are a proven cost-effective method for diverting
offenders from incarceration in prisons. Missouri’s Commitment to Treatment Courts
 Treatment courts lower the recidivism rate of offenders when  2013 marked the 20th anniversary of treatment courts
compared with either incarceration or probation. in Missouri – the first treatment court started in 1993
 They allow offenders to remain in their communities, to in Jackson County. Missouri is a national leader, with
support their families and to pay taxes. more treatment courts per capita than any other state
 Treatment courts reduce the number of babies born addicted, in the nation.
saving the state millions of dollars in lifetime costs in care  This growth was due in part to legislative adoption of
for children who otherwise would have been exposed treatment courts with the 1998 passage of HB 1147,
prenatally to drugs or alcohol. codified at section 478.001, RSMo. In 2001, the
legislature enacted and the governor signed into law
 They reduce crime and the need for foster care, and they help
HB 471, codified at section 478.009, RSMo, to help
ensure that child support payments are made.
ensure the coordination and allocation of treatment
Current Status of Treatment Courts in Missouri court funding through the creation of the Drug Courts
 As of December 31, 2015, there were 141 treatment court Coordinating Commission and the Drug Court
programs. Of these, 92 are adult drug courts, seven are Resources Fund.
juvenile drug courts, 12 are family drug courts, 20 are DWI  In 2010, legislation was adopted to establish DWI
courts and ten are veterans treatment courts. court programs or dockets in Missouri. This
 These programs have more than 4,100 active participants. legislation also allows for limited driving privileges
 Since their inception, Missouri treatment courts have had (LDP) to be granted by a drug or DWI court program
more than 16,500 graduates. judge or commissioner. As of January 1, 2016, 1,061
 Since treatment courts began, 742 drug-free babies have LDPs have been granted to DWI court program
been born to treatment court participants. participants and graduates.
 The graduation rate for all programs exceeds 60 percent  In 2013, legislation was adopted to establish veterans
 The retention rate for all programs exceeds 60 percent. treatment court programs, which are hybrid drug and
mental health court dockets that use the treatment
 In fiscal 2016, the state’s treatment court programs requested
court model to serve veterans struggling with
more than $14 million in funding, while the commission has
addiction, serious mental illness and/or co-occurring
$6 million to spend.
disorders. Through these programs, the courts
 Currently Missouri has ten veterans treatment court
collaborate with traditional partners found in drug
programs on the circuit level, located in the city of St. Louis,
and mental health courts as well as the U.S.
Jackson County, Pulaski County, Boone County, St. Charles
Department of Veterans Affairs health care networks,
County, Jefferson County, Cole County, Clay County,
the Veterans' Benefits Administration, volunteer
SWMO Veterans Treatment court serving 3 counties and the
veteran mentors and family support organizations.
SEMO Veterans Treatment Court serving 23 counties. The

Kansas City municipal court division also has an operational
veterans treatment court program.

Revised January 2016