LA's drug courts could open up to more serious crimes

L.A.'s public safety leaders are considering a proposal to save the county's drug courts by offering higher level offenders an opportunity to participate in rigorous drug treatment in exchange for reduced sentences and dismissals.

Gina Satriano, the director of central operations at the L.A. County District Attorney's Office, gave a presentation on the proposal to the county's countywide criminal justice committee on Wednesday.

As KPCC reported last month, drug courts in L.A. County have seen their admissions drop 50 percent since Proposition 47 went into effect. 

The proposition reduced lower level drug crimes to misdemeanors and made them punishable by probation or time in the county jail, instead of state prison. People charged with such crimes, like drug possession, were prime candidates for drug court. Now they have less of an incentive to participate because a state prison sentence no longer hangs over their heads.

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Treatment programs used for drug court participants have dropped from 85 percent full to about 65 percent full, Satriano said.

To turn the trend around, she said, the committee is considering a proposal to repurpose drug courts to service higher risk, higher need offenders who's crimes are tied to their addictions. Things like theft and being a middle man in a drug deal could qualify, along with any non-violent, non-serious felony.

"We're looking to broaden the eligibility to get into drug court, but at the same time, realizing that what we would also need to do is intensify the program," said Mark Delgado, director of the county's criminal justice coordinating committee. 

He said the new program, if adopted, would involve three months of jail time for people accused of more serious crimes - as well as more rigorous drug treatment and testing requirements.

The new program would cost more per person, but drug courts would simply serve fewer people than before to keep overall costs even.

Satriano told the committee that under the new proposed rules, drug courts could be more effective. Previously, she said, not everyone participating in drug court needed the extent of treatment it provides.

"Sometimes we may be over-treating and not using our resources wisely," she said.

The county has not set a timeline for when it'll decide on the proposal.