Criminal justice client rehabs can be considered as being a significantly better option than time in jail or heavy fines for individuals who have been convicted of any sort of alcohol or drug related crime. For instance, someone who has been found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be eligible to get rehab services for their problem instead of serving time in prison. The judge might even order the individual receive rehabilitation, either alone or together with other consequences. Very first time offenders specifically are often given the opportunity to go with a criminal justice client rehab instead of other sentencing, and it is highly recommended that they make the most of it if it's a choice. The theory behind criminal justice client rehabs is it is far more efficient and effective to invest commitment into rehabilitation than punishment. Much research has been completed to see how effective this strategy is on recidivism rates, i.e. if the individual returns or not to criminal justice system following treatment. The signs and indicators seem to be quite positive, and criminal justice clients who take part in rehab have a much better chance of remaining out of the judicial system after rehabilitation.