Rep. Shaban Pushing for Expansion of Drug Courts

HARTFORD – State Rep John Shaban (R-135) has proposed a bill to increase the use of “drug courts” as part of the state’s effort to combat addiction and drug-related crime. The bill advanced Monday when the Judiciary Committee approved it unanimously.

If passed and signed into law, H.B. 5476 – An Act Expanding the Use of Drug Dockets, will increase the use and availability of this drug intervention program.

“Drug courts have been successful in other states, and Connecticut actually started down this path in 1995,” Shaban said. “At present, however, we only have two ‘drug courts’ operating in our court system, one serving New Haven and the other in Danielson.”

The bill would expand the use of dedicated court dockets to address drug offenses, managed by one judge with access to special contracts with drug service providers, as an additional tool in our state drug intervention program. In support of the bill, Shaban testified that the “drug courts/dockets handle cases where drug use and/or addiction is a major contributing cause of the charged offense, with a goal of addressing and treating substance abuse issues through court-monitored residential and/or day treatment, supervision and other strategies.”

Shaban has argued that, in a session where opioids, addiction and ‘second chances’ are taking center stage, “the expansion of our drug court structure would be a crucial tool in addressing these issues.” He opined that “dedicated drug courts could help prevent the unneeded incarceration of otherwise nonviolent offenders, who are more likely to achieve rehabilitation through a monitored therapeutic treatment process rather than being placed in a traditional prison program.”

The bill is now awaiting referral for consideration by the House and Senate.