CHICAGO, IL – Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) that will relieve the burden of drug court costs for Illinois counties.

House Bill 3795 allows two or more counties within the same judicial circuit court to join together and form a single drug court program. This initiative helps counties that have low case loads reduce their financial burden by sharing costs with neighboring counties. It also authorizes counties with drug courts to impose a $5 fee on Criminal Code and Vehicle Code convictions in order to raise revenue to support the drug court program.

"It is important to maximize the effectiveness of our adult drug court programs while also finding ways to lower costs and reduce the burden on citizens of Illinois counties," said Senator Hunter.

Each county board must approve of the merger before the multi-county program can take effect. Additionally, this law requires all counties to create adult drug court programs. Research by the Office of National Drug Control Policy has estimated that drug courts yield savings of $21,000 annually when the average cost per participant is $2,000 versus the cost of incarceration which is $23,000. In 2002, the state spent an average of $23,812 per year to incarcerate each drug offender.

"I believe that drug courts effectively reduce criminal behavior and in turn help create safer communities," said Senator Hunter. "By investing in these drug court programs we are saving the state thousands of dollars each year and lowering the chances of repeat criminal offenders."