Criminal justice client rehabs can be considered as a far better option than time in jail or heavy fines for those who have already been convicted of any type of alcohol or drug related crime. As an example, somebody who has been in prison for dui of alcohol or drugs may qualify for treatment services for their problem as opposed to serving time in prison. The judge could even order that the individual receive rehab, either alone or along with other consequences. First-time offenders in particular are often given the ability to pick a criminal justice client rehab as an alternative to other sentencing, and it is well-advised they make the most of it when it is an option. The idea behind criminal justice client rehabs is that it is much more effective and efficient to invest time and effort into rehabilitation than punishment. Much research has been carried out to see how effective this strategy is on recidivism rates, i.e. if the criminal justice client returns or not to criminal justice system following treatment. The signs and indicators appear to be quite positive, and criminal justice clients that do experience treatment have a much better chance of remaining out of the system following rehabilitation.