BILLINGS - Billings Municipal Drug Court has changed dozens of lives since it was created in 2005. It is a three-phase program for misdemeanor crimes committed either under the influence or because of drug addiction.

The national recidivism rate is 88%, while the Drug Court recidivism rate is only 40%. Judge Mary Jane Knisely says, we've had very few people re-offend both in program and after they graduate." The program is a balance of justice and treatment. Judge Knisely adds, "Drug Court allows you to look more at the individual and allow you to come up with a sentence that is appropriate." She says, "There are some tough nuts to crack. The team comes down hard in the beginning."

She says Drug Court has saved the city of Billings over $130,000 dollars in jail costs. She adds, "For every dollar spent on Drug Courts you'll save $4 dollars in incarceration costs and in the court system later."

Since 2005, Drug Court clients have done over 1700 hours of community service. Of her clients she says, "They don't look like the same people that they do when they come in when they're clean." When it comes to Drug Court as a whole she says, "I love it, because it's working. It works and you don't see them back every Monday, Wednesday or Friday."

Thirty-three people have graduated from Billings Municipal Drug Court. In the next installment of the Drug Court series, we'll here more from Mandi Smith and Amanda Brum. They'll discuss their time in Drug Court and how their lives have changed.