 |
ArticlesDUIs - Not Just for Alcoholics
Arrests for driving under the influence don't just happen to people with a drinking problem.
Read more
|
|
Articles Alternative Sentencing: Seeking Rehabilitation Instead of PunishmentAlternative sentencing is a hard sell because the system is about punishment not rehabilitation.
 Alternative sentencing provides an offender with the opportunity to get help for a substance abuse problem that contributed to their offense and will make them less likely to offend again. It sounds like a win-win, so why is it such a hard sell? It can be an uphill battle in the courts because the legal process is built around punishment, not rehabilitation.
"The system doesn't care about anyone getting better," says renowned interventionist Dan Cronin. "Action is born in thought. And we punish the action, but we don't deal with the thought system that led to it."
It's no big revelation to say our criminal justice system is broken. Our current system involves locking up offenders with a group of people who have the same disordered thinking and offering them no help for those disorders, then expecting their thought processes to have changed when they are released.
Judges can't help but think about reelection. As a result, they are worried about letting someone out who may reoffend. If they do, that judge will be held responsible. It only needs to happen once for them to be labeled "soft on crime," a label that can be a career killer.
The truth is, incarceration is easy, treatment is risky. Treatment is even referred to as a "country club" by many judges. They think it's too cushy. Prosecutors hear about programs like "equine therapy" and imagine offenders relaxing in a spa-like setting.
The key is to focus on the treatment begin provided. The work that will be done during the program is what the judge cares about. They want to know that the offender will be working hard, not taking a vacation.
We're seeing more addiction-related crimes, and jail time for those offenders isn't making a positive difference. The education process needs to continue with judges, prosecutors and others that treatment is our best shot at stemming the tide.
Email Us
We are here to listen. If you have any questions about the services we offer or would like more information about us, please fill out the form below and a representative will contact you shortly.
All information is considered private and confidential.
|
|
