Criminal justice clients are a significant percentage of clientele who take part in drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Manitou Springs and across the nation. Court systems in the U.S. are finding it more beneficial to treat individuals who have ended up in the court system for drug related crimes, instead of punishing them to no avail with jail time and other penalties. It is proven to be more effective to address the trouble of drug addiction directly, rather than invoke such penalties. Most individuals who do not make their way to drug and alcohol treatment will frequently turn right back up in the criminal justice hamster wheel, while criminal justice clients in drug rehab generally don't fall back into drug use and have a much better chance at staying sober and away from the court system for good.