The bad news keeps coming on state and local government budgets. A recent new report states that more than 300 district court employees in Bernalillo County Court may have to take furloughs unless additional revenue from the state is received.

What can be just as discouraging is the longer view, that the state's revenue crisis may impact other services and promising programs that have yet to show promise — or in this case, the Santa Fe Magistrate DWI Drug Court Program under Administrative Office of the Court.

Championed by Judge David Segura, the Santa Fe court is based on a statewide program conducted at both the Magistrate and District Court levels around New Mexico. Donita Sena, program coordinator says that while the program is less than a year old, it, like others around the state shows the potential of making a difference with offenders who "drink and drug." A maximum of 20 participants is capacity with 15 currently enrolled. Offenders are selected based on the potential to be amenable for treatment, required to undergo a more structured level of supervision, must serve detention time, as well as participate in appropriate therapy.

But don't think this as being a "Big Hug" program. Here's why. The program is mandated judicial supervision and treatment. The aim is to combine justice-jail time, treatment for the offender and social services for the family and break a pattern of repeated incarceration for selected offenders who are reasonably predicted to be successful, instead of the very expensive jail or prison time. And while the program is still in its infancy here, a similar program has been in place a number of years with the Albuquerque Metro Court with encouraging initial results.

In a study completed by a University of New Mexico research team for the AOC, state Department of Finance and Bernalillo Metro Court, research concluded that 75 percent of those entering the DWI Drug Court Program graduated. A positive first step, but what else?

Well, graduates of the program are less likely to recidivate than non-graduates, at a rate of one-third. And while certain graduates did recidivate, it took them longer, about 1.8 times longer, indicating something in the program is working and suggesting less intense, but continued supervision may further increase success rates. Overall, the results are on par with other studies and results from around the nation. That is, drug court programs work.

Here's the caveat. The cost of the program per DWI offender is more than typical supervision, a result of more intensive level of supervision, treatment and other components. However, it pales in comparison with the cost of an offender being committed to jail or a longer prison term.

And that's the rub. When looking at costs to cut, a program like this looks like a bull's eye because it has yet to validate itself, is new and other, more established programs take priority. It's kind of like health care. We would rather wait until the problem can't be ignored and spend more money later, then take the preventive approach and spend it upfront.

If state and local communities are serious about preventing DWIs and particularly the repeat offenses so often associated with DWI tragedies, DWI Drug Court Program offers the potential to do this. At the same, time it offers treatment and services likely to benefit those most in need and does in a cost effective manner. It's the return on investment often demanded from the public but somewhat elusive to find in public sector services. And unfortunately, when fiscal times are tight, programs like these can easily be the most likely candidates for the chopping block. Here's one program that should be given further consideration.

Nick Mandel is principal of New Mexico Public Strategy and can be reached at his Web site, www.nickmandel.com