Budget may cut drug courts

Louisiana Supreme Court justices testified Tuesday that a $16 million cut to the Judiciary in its budget for the next fiscal year that begins in four weeks would cause the third branch of government to contract its drug court program that has helped curb the state’s percentage of repeat offenders.
Chief Justice Bernette Johnson and Associate Justice Greg Guidry told the Senate Finance Committee that more than 75 percent of the Judiciary’s budget is mandated costs from salaries and retirements.
That means that the $16 million in proposed cuts under House Bill 616 would have to come from the drug courts, domestic violence offender registries or other services provided by the judicial branch.
“The drug courts have saved the state a considerable amount of money,” Guidry said. “Over $150 million has been saved as a result of babies not being addicted to drugs at birth because the drug court program (curbed) the mother’s addiction.”
The justices pointed out 88 percent of the drug court graduates have no new convictions.
The judiciary and legislative budgets now move to full Senate consideration.
As for the Legislature, its budget lost $10 million from its operating costs. The committee accepted the reduction without debate.
The judiciary and legislative budgets now move to full Senate consideration.