LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -Most counties in Arkansas have a drug court. It's a three-year, five-phase program designed to help clients fight drug addiction and become productive members of society.
Successful completion of the program wipes the client's charges clean. Now, the program's budget is in jeopardy.
Every Monday, Judge Robert Herzfeld holds drug court in his Saline County courtroom. When voters elected him three years ago, the state allocated $3 million for its 41 drug courts around the state. Now, the program is operating on less than a half-million dollars annually.
It's a budgeting issue Judge Herzfeld says, doesn't add up.
"Just out of Saline County last year we saved the state $800,000 that otherwise would have been spent on folks in prison. They're not only not in prison. They're also working, paying taxes, paying child support, not committing crimes."
If you factor in all the other drug court participants last year across the state, the total amount saved jumps to $30 million according to numbers the judge put together.
But, to rehabilitate the program's participants, judges say they need a steady stream of funds to tackle a recurring problem.
"Everybody has their own problems, their own issues, but the folks who are in drug court have had their lives ripped apart and destroyed by addiction."
But Judge Herzfeld says, the drug court is offering those addicts a second chance.
"I hear stories all the time about people who are reconnecting with their families and who are welcome back in their family and they're getting people back who they thought they lost forever."
All drug court participants are required to get a job, pay back any fines and take three drug tests a week.
Drug court judges will meet with legislators Friday afternoon to voice their concerns over budgeting.