Chris Christie (Drug Policy)

Christie | Drug Policy | (section page)

Focus on Treatment First with Expansion of Drug Courts:

Governor Christie has championed the use of drug courts in the state of New Jersey, which allow first time, non-violent offenders, the opportunity to get the treatment they need rather than serving jail time. The Governor expanded mandatory drug court for first time non-violent drug offenders across the state, and is calling for the expansion drug courts to every state.

• The rate at which drug court graduates are re-arrested for new offenses is 16% and the reconviction rate is 8%. This is compared to re-arrest rates for drug offenders released from prison, which stand at 54% with a re-conviction rate of 43%.
• An average institutional cost per inmate is approximately $38,900, whereas the cost for an active drug court participant is roughly $11,379.

Governor Christie also called for ending the current dysfunctional, ad-hoc approach for implementing drug courts being used on the federal level.

• As President, Christie would make drug court mandatory in all 94 federal districts. He will implement a system to review and analyze outcomes of the various drug court models and institute best practices guidance for federal judges and prosecutors.

(CCWJR)

Simplified Quotes

• Allow private sector to offer drug treatment programs. (Nov 2015)
• Treatment, not jail, for drug addicts; it's a disease. (Nov 2015)
• I support medical not recreational marijuana. (Sep 2015)
• Mandatory drug treatment, not jail, for first time dealers. (Sep 2015)
• Drug addiction is a disease: treatment instead of jail. (Apr 2015)
• Drug addiction is a disease & it can be treated. (Jan 2015)
• Drug courts: mandate treatment, not imprisonment. (Jan 2014)

(OTI:Drugs) Full quotes available on source.