WurfWhile

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hiram Wurf

Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board District 5

T 630.416.2198

Email hwurf@yahoo.com

DuPage County Board Candidate Says Drug Court Expansion Is Cost Effective And The Right Thing To Do

Says “We Can Save Money, Decrease Crime And Improve Lives - That Fits Any Budget”

Naperville, IL — Hiram Wurf, Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board District 5, today questioned why the DuPage County Board has not endorsed expanding the Drug Court program. The program, designed for non-violent offenders with a felony pending, currently has 108 adults participating. The proposed expansion would require an additional staff member to serve as many as 200 participants.

“I recognize that not every applicant is suitable for the program,” Wurf said, “but every success story saves DuPage taxpayers money in state and local taxes, increases the safety of their person and property, and helps create more productive members of our society. Beyond being the right thing to do - it’s really quite a deal!”

Studies point to the effectiveness of Drug Courts in reducing recidivism compared to traditional conviction and incarceration approaches, reducing the recidivism rate 17 to 40%.

According to Robin Partin, Program Coordinator for the DuPage County Drug Court, treatment dollars for program participants cost the county about $1,500. The state then takes over treatment costs as needed. In comparison to treatment, the DuPage County Jail costs about $107 per day. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, imprisoning each drug offender cost the state an average of $23,812 per year in 2002. The proposed expansion of the DuPage Drug Court program requires a third probation officer with a salary of $35,000 to increase program capacity to 200 participants at a time. The program takes participants a minimum of two years to complete.

DuPage County Board Member Grant Eckhoff (R-Wheaton) indicated expanding the Drug Court was going to be a “challenge when the budget comes up.”

“It is time for DuPage County to take the lead in alternatives to incarceration,” Wurf responded. “We played catch-up in developing the Drug Court a few years ago, falling behind other communities that better recognized their own self-interest. Now the DuPage County Board debates whether they can find $35,000 to expand a program that will help our community and save it money. Where is their common sense? If they can continue to sink taxpayer millions into a county airport that everyone has agreed should be self-sufficient, surely they can spend enough for a single salary that will save taxpayers money long-term, make our community safer and help individuals overcome the horror of drug addiction. Where are the Board’s priorities?”

Hiram Wurf is the Democratic candidate for the DuPage County Board District 5. He and his wife have lived in the District for nine years and have two children. Hiram operates the Midwest Regional Office of a promotional marketing solutions firm. You can read more about Hiram’s views on the issues at www.WurfWhile.com.

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