South Dakota’s highest-ranking judge is giving the state’s drug and DUI courts, such as the Beadle County Drug Court, high marks.
Chief Justice David Gilbertson says around 450 people are in the system which offers an alternative to prison to those battling addiction…..
He says since its start in 2008 there are now drug and dui courts in every South Dakota city that’s large enough to support the programs by having treatment facilities.
Gilbertson says from a financial stand point, it costs about $8,000 a year for someone in drug court as opposed to $20-25,000 to place them in prison.
(KORN)