Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2000 Albuquerque Journal Contact: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Author: Loie Fecteau, Journal Politics Writer DRUG TREATMENT MAY SAVE MONEY SANTA FE -- New Mexico could save millions of dollars by requiring drug offenders to go into treatment programs instead of jail, an assistant public defender told lawmakers Friday. "Changing the law and requiring mandatory treatment will reduce the prison population, save the state of New Mexico money and reduce crime," said Jacqueline Cooper, who manages the drug court diversion program in the Public Defender's Office in Bernalillo County. "We need to treat drug offenders for what they are," Cooper told the Legislature's interim Courts and Criminal Justice Committee. "They are addicts. They are sick people with a chronic illness. They are the mentally ill with substance abuse problems." Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, who chairs the legislative committee, said lawmakers would consider Cooper's suggestions before the start of the next legislative session in January. "It's clear that if we just incarcerate without treatment we'll never solve the problem," Sanchez said. "We need to start addressing it without partisan squabbling." Dave Miller, Gov. Gary Johnson's legislative liaison, said he was encouraged the committee appeared willing to consider changes to New Mexico's drug laws. "Michael (Sanchez) was clearly holding out an olive branch in wanting to work together," Miller said after the meeting. "Kudos to Michael for even putting it on the agenda." Miller said the committee's discussion of drug laws on Friday was "in complete contrast to what we went through last session when the Legislature stomped all over Gary (Johnson) for even talking about drugs." Johnson recently created a privately funded advisory group to develop drug policies in New Mexico in line with his national push to legalize marijuana and to change other drug laws. The advisory group, which is to report to Johnson by the end of the year, is charged with developing so-called "harm reduction" policies in New Mexico for harder drugs, such as heroin. The policies would include treatment and prevention programs, needle exchanges and increased education. "The governor is looking for common sense reforms," Miller said. Cooper told lawmakers she believes penalties should be reduced for felony drug possession and drug trafficking charges, while detoxification centers, drug courts and in-house residential treatment centers should be expanded. She said it costs about $28,000 a year, or $76 a day, to jail a drug offender. By contrast, the drug court program costs about $5,000 a year, or $14 a day, per participant. "Almost $3 million a year could be saved by keeping 100 possession cases out of prison," Cooper said. The state's drug court program began as a pilot project in 1995 in Bernalillo County. As of May, 304 individuals had completed the nine-month mix of treatment and strict supervision. Eleven other drug courts operate in New Mexico, with four more planned. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D