The 2009 Legislature appropriated $19 million in federal funds to establish eight post-adjudicatory drug courts. The drug courts were expected to divert offenders from prison and thereby reduce corrections costs by an estimated $95 million.
The drug courts are generally meeting standards for their operation. However, they are unlikely to generate the expected cost savings for several reasons. Initial admissions targets overestimated the potential population of offenders who would qualify for the programs and strict eligibility criteria limited admissions. Some programs also appear to be serving offenders who would be unlikely to be sentenced to prison in the absence of drug court.
The Legislature may wish to consider four options to address these problems. It could modify drug court criteria to serve more prison-bound offenders, include additional counties in the program, require the courts to serve predominantly prison-bound offenders, and/or shift federal funds to other prison diversion programs.

Expansion Drug Courts Serving More Prison-Bound Offenders, but Will Not Fully Expend Federal Funds
Report 11-21 November 2011
Zero Tolerance Policy Rescinded and Alternatives Implemented to Address Technical Violations
Report 10-39 April 2010
Intermediate Sanctions for Non-Violent Offenders Could Produce Savings
Report 10-27 March 2010
Pretrial Release Programs' Compliance With New Reporting Requirements Is Mixed
Report 10-08 January 2010

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.