Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) Copyright: 2005 Richmond Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.timesdispatch.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) BARIL SAYS HE'D PUSH FOR MORE DRUG COURTS IN STATE Steve Baril, a candidate for the Republican nomination for attorney general, said yesterday that he would promote the expansion of drug courts in Virginia. Baril, a Richmond lawyer and longtime GOP activist, is opposed by Del. Robert F. McDonnell of Virginia Beach in a June primary. Virginia has 28 drug courts, which provide an alternative to prison time for nonviolent drug addicts. Participants undergo court-supervised treatment, counseling and drug testing before "graduating" from the program. "Drug courts demand self-help," he said at a news conference. "They do not tolerate users, abusers or slackers. I'm here to tell you, drug courts work." Baril said only 16 percent of drug court graduates commit new felonies, compared with nearly half of those who do prison time. The annual cost per offender is about $4,000 in drug courts, he said, while the cost for traditional incarceration is about $19,000 to $40,000. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth