San Francisco’s Drug Court program will graduate 41 people today as part of an ongoing city effort that supporters say reduces recidivism and saves the city millions in court costs.
According to Drug Court officials, the program has saved the city about $48 million, about $3.4 million on average each year, since its inception in 1995, through a combination of rehabilitation and social services with judicial oversight.
The program has treated more than 3,500 San Franciscans.
Of today’s graduates, 27 percent were formerly living either on the street or in shelters and only 7 percent had jobs, according to the court. Now, all of the graduates have housing and 41 percent have paying jobs.
The graduation takes place at 2 p.m. in the San Francisco Health Commission auditorium at 101 Grove St.
