For Immediate Release  
Date: January 28, 2008                                
 
Contact: media@famm.org                                                          
          

FAMM testifies on special probation support bills

TRENTON:  Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) today testified in
support of   Assembly Bill A-1770, a bill to amend the special probation
statute to allow more drug-addicted New Jerseyans to participate in
cost-effective, court-supervised drug treatment programs instead of
incarceration. The amendments would implement recommendations on expanding the special probation statute made by the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing.

Sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, A-1770 would allow individuals with substance abuse problems who are convicted of drug-related crimes carrying mandatory minimum sentences or presumptive  incarceration to be diverted into residential and non-residential treatment programs administered by the court.  A-1770 is similar to Senate bills S.
233 and S. 504, sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Shirley K. Turner.

"FAMM supports the amendments because they will help more nonviolent drug
offenders address their substance abuse problems directly, giving them a
second chance to become productive members of society. Expanding the
special probation statute will also save money and make our state safer by
reducing recidivism,” said Joseph Greer, director of FAMM’s New Jersey
project.

A General Accounting Office (GAO) report on drug courts recently found that
recidivism rates are lower for individuals who complete drug court than for
those sent to prison or placed on regular probation. The New Jersey
Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing found that drug courts can save
tax dollars by diverting nonviolent drug offenders away from state prisons.
 In New Jersey, there are roughly 7,848 state prisoners incarcerated for
drug offenses. It costs $34,750 each year to incarcerate versus $19,800 a
year for an intensive drug court program.

“Effective alternatives like drug courts complement FAMM’s work to reform
New Jersey’s drug-free zone laws,” said Greer.  In addition to the
amendments being considered today, drug-free zone reform enjoys wide
bipartisan support, including the GEAR Task Force and the state’s
prosecutors.  We hope that the legislature will take the next step and pass
drug-free zone reform as soon as possible in the new legislative session,”
concluded Greer. 

Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is a national, nonpartisan
nonprofit organization that advocates for fair and proportionate sentences
and supports efforts to provide judges with sentencing alternatives, such
as treatment and drug courts, in appropriate cases.

Contact Joseph Greer at (609) 577-9520, or via email jgreer@famm.org.
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