An Argument for Providing Drug Courts in all Alabama Counties Based on Judeo-Christian Ethics

Abstract

A drug court is an alternative process in the criminal justice system for eligible nonviolent drug offenders that focuses on treatment and allows successful defendants to avoid prison time and a criminal record. This article first provides a snap-shot of the availability of drug courts both nationwide and in Alabama and presents two strong arguments supporting the drug court alternative. The first argument summarizes the substantial evidence indicating that the drug court alternative costs taxpayers substantially less money and enhances public safety. The second and even more compelling argument illustrates that the moral principles of Judeo-Christian ethics, which require laws to be compassionate towards the sick and support the reasonable opportunity of each person to reach their potential as well as condemn oppressive laws imposing excessive punishment, compel all Alabamians of faith to insist that political leaders adopt an appropriate plan that implements drug courts on all sixty-seven of the state's counties.

Keywords: criminal law, controlled substance, drug offenses, prisons, drug courts, sentencing, ethics, law and religion