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DTAP
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In 1990, District
Attorney Hynes created Drug
Treatment Alternative-to-Prison (DTAP),
the nation’s first prosecution-run
program based on the premise that
chronic offenders will return to
society in a better position to
resist drugs and crime after
treatment than after spending a
comparable amount of time in prison
at nearly twice the cost. DTAP
diverts drug-addicted, non-violent
repeat felony offenders, following a
guilty plea, into residential
substance abuse treatment in lieu of
mandatory prison. Upon successful
completion of the program, the plea
is withdrawn and the charges are
dismissed. In the event of program
failure, a prison sentence is
imposed. A warrant enforcement team
quickly returns to court any
participant who absconds from
treatment. Independent researchers
have concluded that DTAP is a safe
and cost-effective way to reduce
recidivism.
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TADD
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In 1998, the Kings
County District Attorney’s Office
launched Treatment Alternatives for
the Dually Diagnosed (TADD), an
alternative to incarceration
program. The program originally
targeted mentally ill offenders who
also had a co-occurring substance
abuse disorder. It later expanded
to also include those suffering
solely from a serious mental
illness. After pleading guilty,
offenders enter a mental health
treatment program in lieu of
incarceration. Treatment progress
is carefully monitored by EAC-LINK,
a non-profit criminal justice case
management agency specializing in
mental health treatment, which
regularly reports to the prosecutor
and court to ensure that public
safety is not compromised and that
the offender is receiving
appropriate treatment. Over 1,000
individuals have received treatment
through the program since TADD’s
inception.
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Choices & Consequences -
Automobile collisions
are the number one cause of death
for young people between the ages of
16 and 24. District Attorney Hynes
introduced the CHOICES &
CONSEQUENCES PROGRAM in response to
the deadly problems of reckless and
drunk driving among teenagers and as
an adjunct to the vigorous
prosecution of offenders.
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Red Hook Community Justice Center-
The Justice Center
contains a community court which
addresses the unique social and
judicial needs of the neighborhoods
comprising the 72nd, 76th, and 78th
Precincts. The prosecution of all
misdemeanor and low level felonies
from the catchment area is handled
there. Case dispositions regularly
include drug treatment, vocational
and educational programming, and
community service. The court was
created in response to the tragic
death of Patrick Daly to address
crime and quality of life issues in
the area around the school where he
taught and the housing development
where he was murdered.
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Brooklyn Treatment Court
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In New
York City’s first drug court,
Brooklyn Treatment Court (BTC),
addicted, non-violent, first-time
drug felony offenders are offered
the opportunity to plead guilty and
enter drug treatment while their
sentencing is deferred. If they
complete treatment, the charges are
dismissed; but if they fail, a
previously agreed-upon jail sentence
is imposed. The court’s clinical
staff monitors treatment progress,
providing updates to the judge,
prosecutor, and defense counsel.
The judge uses graduated sanctions
and rewards to encourage treatment
completion.
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Mental Health Court
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Building
on groundwork laid by the District
Attorney’s TADD program, Brooklyn’s
Mental Health Court, the first such
specialty court in New York State,
opened in 2002. Defendants
suffering from serious and
persistent mental illnesses are
offered the opportunity to plead
guilty and enter a treatment program
while their sentencing is deferred.
If the defendant successfully
completes the program, charges are
either reduced or dismissed
depending on the case. If the
defendant fails, the previously
agreed-upon prison sentence is
imposed. The court’s clinical staff
and the prosecutor carefully screen
defendants for eligibility and
monitor their progress while in
treatment in order to minimize any
risk to public safety.
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