News Releases for December 2002
December 10, 2002
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Hoeven's Comprehensive Meth Strategy Focuses On Education, Prevention, Law Enforcement
Budget Targets Methamphetamine, Substance Abuse with $3.6 Million
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven’s new budget takes aim at methamphetamine and substance abuse in North Dakota with new resources and funding for a comprehensive education, prevention and law enforcement anti-drug strategy. Last week, the Governor recommended a $3.6 million package to address the challenge of substance abuse in his new executive budget.
In February 2002, the Governor, in cooperation with the Attorney General, launched the North Dakota Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, a group composed of 11 state agencies, to coordinate the state’s prevention, education and law-enforcement activities.
“A year ago, we launched a comprehensive task force to fight drug abuse, especially methamphetamine use and manufacture, in our state on all levels,” Hoeven said. “Our budget provides the funding to give the members of the task force the resources they need to get the job done.”
The Governor’s executive budget includes $560,000 in new dollars for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s methamphetamine and narcotics enforcement efforts, as well as for a new crime lab to manage the increased caseload of both drug-related crimes. Additional personnel and equipment will be dedicated to law enforcement initiatives.
In addition, Hoeven’s recommendations include further expansion of Drug Court, in cooperation with the state Supreme Court and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR). Nearly $89,000 will go to the Court and $270,000 to DOCR to help reclaim lives. Over the past year, the state has expanded Drug Court in Bismarck and Fargo.
“We are working closely with Chief Justice VandeWalle and Justice Maring, as well as our Department of Corrections, to enhance and enlarge the program throughout the state,” Hoeven said. “Drug Courts not only reclaim lives, but also save taxpayer dollars.”
The Governor’s executive budget also includes an additional $2.7 million of new money under the federal Safe and Drug Free Schools program to educate youth and prevent substance abuse where it begins, at the elementary and high school level.
To deal with the growing prison population because of meth use and other substance abuse, Hoeven’s budget recommends funding of $1.2 million for a new women’s prison on the campus of the state hospital in Jamestown. The plan calls for renovating the LaHaug building to accommodate up to 150 women prisoners. It also frees up 93 beds for men at the James River Correctional Facility, where women are now being housed. The arrangement saves taxpayers $22 million in the new biennium, and an estimated $10 million in future bienniums.
“Our strategy combines education, prevention and enforcement efforts to address substance abuse in a comprehensive way,” Hoeven said.
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