No plan to save drug treatment in Broward

While Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti has come up with a plan to attempt to reverse two of his most painful budget cuts through voluntary furloughs -- layoffs and closing a jail -- he hasn't announced any intentions to save drug treatment programs for inmates.

Earlier this year Lamberti announced he would end drug treatment and other programs for inmates in the jail by Aug. 1. Everyone -- including Lamberti -- agrees about the importance of the programs, but he says he can't afford it while being ordered to cut $50 million from his budget. Lamberti has refused to cut that amount but has taken steps to reduce growth in spending, such as axing treatment.

The Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is organizing a public forum about the jail programs at 1 p.m. July 24th at the courthouse. President Russell Williams said he plans to start a petition drive and hopes that the public turns up the heat on the county commission and the sheriff to find a way to pay for the programs.

"Everybody knows that the programs are essential but nobody is willing to step up to the plate and fund them,'' he said.

Williams and other attorneys say that ending drug treatment will only cost taxpayers more in the future because currently judges sentence inmates to shorter stays in the jail if they complete treatment programs. Without the treatment, inmates will sit in jail longer -- and will be more likely reoffend when they are released, advocates say. Longer and more frequent stints in jail could lead to overcrowding, violating a federal court order that could lead to fines for the county if the jails exceed a population cap.

Williams speculates that Lamberti chose to cut drug treatment to hit a nerve with the county.

"If he trims the budget to exclude treatment programs the jail cap increases. If the cap increases Broward County is responsible for paying the fine.  He is figuring if he puts that pressure on the county commission the county commission will find the money to fund the program.''

Comments

[moderate Floridian]

Put em all in jail,take em out of the loop and maybe we can work out a deal to send them to another country,the only people in this country that deserve rehab are those who have the financial means to do so,all the rest of them need to be deported or executed.
Actually I think its obvious this is sarcasm BUT,
I heard Limbaugh say things like this years ago,send them to another country execute them etc,etc! Now we pretend not to know limbaugh is a druggie.

[Maria]

Before I decide if I want to save - or no t- the drug program I'd want to know if there is abuse of psychotropics as it seems to exist with foster care children .

[Jason]

drug addicts are a burden on society and should be Euthanized.

[teen drug treatment]

Drug treatment is particularly indicated for patients with clear evidence of sleep disorders. This occurs more often in patients with a recent clinical history of insomnia. Therefore, hypnotics are often used in patients with no other concomitant disease and who continue with their usual daily life activities.

-mj-

[sober living for women]

A drug treatment is very important for cases like what you said. I know some sober living houses, i will be glad if it helps.

-sam