In 2008, the Rockland County Drug Court celebrated its tenth anniversary. The Drug Court, first launched in Clarkstown, is a treatment court program for defendants with drug and alcohol problems charged with nonviolent misdemeanor and felony crimes. Defendants are diverted from incarceration to chemical dependency treatment supervised by the Drug Court Team. The mission of the Rockland County Drug Court is to bring together the justice system with the chemical dependency treatment system to assist substance abusers with criminal charges, who meet program criteria, to overcome their drug problem benefiting both themselves and the community.

Since taking office in January, 2008, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe has built on its decade of success by expanding criteria for drug offenses and adding DWI felonies to the specially-designated court. The Zugibe administration also relaxed other eligibility requirements to include certain low-level drug offenders.

In May, 2008, the Rockland County Drug Court expanded to include a DWI component. Since then, dozens of participants have been accepted into a special monitoring program: The Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, or SCRAM, monitoring bracelet program for drunken driving felons. Participants are required to successfully complete an 18-month program and wear the SCRAM bracelet, which is attached to the ankle and automatically tests for alcohol 24 hours a day, for at least 180 days, while under the jurisdiction of the Drug Court.

Participants in the SCRAM program must also receive inpatient and/or outpatient treatment, attend self-help meetings and make weekly court appearances. The Sheriff’s Department also performs home visits to monitor participants, who, in addition to any license suspensions or revocations, are forbidden to drive. The Rockland County STOP-DWI Office allocated $40,000 for the year for the alcohol monitoring program; $30,000 for the bracelets and $10,000 for the Sheriff’s office to monitor the participants.

On a national level, approximately 33 percent of participants repeat criminal activity following graduation from Drug Court, compared to 67 percent of those who do not participate. Enhancements to the Rockland County Drug Court under the Zugibe Administration have produced recidivism rates of approximately 20 to 25 percent, dramatically lower than the national average. Since hearing its first case in 1998, more than 150 people charged with nonviolent crimes have completed the stringent requirements and close to 18 months of rehabilitation. Instead of costing the County money, successful Drug Court graduates have become truly integrated productive members of the community.