Thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Richard Rosen and the entire Hancock County delegation, long-term funding of the Hancock County Deferred Sentencing Project will be provided by the state in the amount of $150,000 per year as of July 1, 2008.

The program will become Maine’s sixth adult Drug Court.

Recently, however, the program learned that its two grant applications for interim funding from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance have been denied, and that only four awards were made to implement new adult drug courts nationwide. As a result, the Hancock County program needs to secure one-time “bridge funding” from Feb. 1 through June 30, 2008.

The project has applied for county funding for this five-month period, and its budget request of $49,000 will be considered by the Hancock County budget advisory committee on Oct. 24. Essentially all of the money requested is for: (1) substance abuse treatment; (2) case management; (3) drug testing; and (4) treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders.

Studies have documented that specialty drug courts reduce crime and recidivism, increase public safety, increase sobriety and recovery among former defendants, and save money. Maine established its statewide system of drug courts in 2001 and operates five Drug Courts, in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Penobscot, York, and Washington counties.

Hancock County implemented its jail diversion program in January 2005, funding it entirely through grants and local contributions. Modeled closely after Maine’s Drug Court and led by retired Superior Court Justice Paul T. Pierson, the Hancock County program is a special, court-ordered rehabilitation program for selected, nonviolent defendants addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Following a plea agreement, sentencing is deferred and defendants are diverted from incarceration while a nine-member multidisciplinary team provides strict, continual supervision and a demanding outpatient treatment program in the community for at least one year.

The project’s first client was admitted in April 2005. Since then, 112 people have been evaluated, and 28 clients have been admitted. Ten clients have completed the program successfully and are employed full time or are pursuing an approved educational program. Fifteen clients make up the active census, and three clients have either withdrawn or been expelled from the program.

During its first 29 months of operation, the Hancock County program has achieved the following: a 77 percent graduation rate; a 7 percent “in-program” re-arrest rate for a new criminal offense; and an 11 percent withdrawal-expulsion rate. These results surpass the comparable outcome measures reported by drug courts nationally and by Maine’s Drug Courts. In addition, none of the project’s 10 graduates have been re-arrested for a new criminal offense since graduating three to 17 months ago (average 10 months). It is estimated, therefore, that during its first two years of operation, the Hancock County program saved the state $269,000 in incarceration costs.

The above results document the success of the program to date. Further evidence of that success is underscored by the state’s commitment to provide long-term funding for a Drug Court in Ellsworth, beginning July 1, 2008. The Hancock County program has applied to the county to ensure uninterrupted funding and continuation of the project for the five month period from Feb. 1 to June 30. The $49,000 requested would increase the commissioners’ proposed 2008 budget by less than 1 percent and result in a total increase in the county budget of 2.66 percent. As noted in the project’s budget request, the $49,000 has been requested on a contingency basis: Any new grants awarded to the program before July 1, 2008, would result in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in county funds expended.

It is imperative, however, for the Hancock County program to secure committed funding now for the five-month period ahead. Since admission to the program requires a negotiated plea agreement between the defendant and the state, and since the program requires a minimum treatment period of at least one year, both the court and each client need to be assured of the program’s continued operation. In view of the documented success of the program to date, it would be extremely unfortunate if a client’s treatment had to be interrupted, suspended or temporarily discontinued prior to completion.

It is hoped, therefore, that the Hancock County budget advisory committee will approve the one-time funding request, and that the county commissioners will do so as well.

Richard C. Dimond, M.D., of Southwest Harbor is chairman of the steering committee for the Hancock County Deferred Sentencing Project.