Criminal justice clients are a large percentage of clients who take part in drug rehabilitation centers in Merino and across the nation. Court systems in the U.S. often find it more helpful to rehabilitate men and women who have wound 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 handle the issue of drug addiction directly, rather than invoke such penalties. The majority of individuals who do not end up in drug and alcohol rehab will often wind back up in the criminal justice system, whilst criminal justice clients in alcohol and drug rehabilitation generally don't fall back into drug use and have a far better chance at staying sober and away from the court system for good.