There’s no easily solution. In many cases crime is a spontaneous act, a result of the senseless behavior, an argument, or inebriation.

Rather than throwing criminal in jail for some offenses, the District Court has taken a more hoslitic stance.

In an effort to decrease the incarceration rate, District Judge Bob Armstrong and others in the criminal justic system assign low-risk crimes, involving drugs, to the drug court program, which includes forms of counseling.

Armstrong described it as a way for Dallas County residents to make a new friend group, talk to different people and ultimately stop drug-induced activity. The goal, he says, is to make a meaningful change in the community and, in turn, improve the quality of life.

“I live here; Selma is my home,” he said. “I know that being hard on crime sounds good, when you’re talking tough, but I really want to make Selma better, and to do that, you have to address the root cause.”

But we have a question.

What is the best way to address and lower Selma’s crime rater further?

Perhaps, it’s investing in programs like the drug court. It makes sense — change low-risk addicts into productive members of society.

Armstrong is certainly investing in the program and showed support for its expansion by attending the ribbon cutting of Dallas County Court Services new facility.

There’s certainly a hard-nosed, aspect to law enforcement. In some cases, counseling isn’t the answer. But in most, low-risk cases, drug court is the best solution.

Chief of Police William Riley best explained how a simple addiction can turn into a life of crime without some kind of intervention.

Someone who is drug tested at work and fails could quickly lose his or her job, Riley said. With no job, Riley said the person could steal to fund their habit. Though it’s a simple theft now, Riley said a later incident could be more serious, potentially a homicide.

Drug court isn’t the only method to lowering crime, but it’s an important aspect.

Some drug-related crimes deserve jail time, but, for many others, drug court and programs like it are an effective way to curb negative behavior.