You do the crime, you do the time, the old saying goes.

But should all criminals be considered as the same?

PolkCounty has addressed this question by launching Iowa’s first “drug court,” the purpose of which is to prevent non-violent offenders with drug abuse problems from becoming trapped in a system bent on punishment.

The “court” works like this: approximately 163 criminals a year will be identified by probation officers as eligible for the Intensive Supervision Program.

Those eligible will be given the opportunity to sign an agreement requiring substance abuse treatment and random drug testing.

Compliance could mean being exempted from jail or prison time.

The program, which is estimated to save the state as much as $2 million in jail and prison costs a year, offers basically a personal initiative opportunity for drug abusers.

The program in no way exempts them from responsibility for their crime, as those who violate the terms of the agreement will be immediately sent to serve their jail term, but acknowledges the fact that perhaps drug abusers need more than just punishment: they also need help.

Another satisfactory element of the program is that this program will not be available to those convicted of felonies.

This means the convicted murderer can’t go to his probation officer and say, “I also have a drug problem in addition to my violence problem. Can I enroll in the program and escape jail time?”

Nope. Violent offenders and alleged drug dealers are not eligible for the program.

Polk County’s drug court is reserved for those who are a danger primarily to themselves.

Through this program, county officials hope to help drug abusers get treatment, job training, a GED, basically anything that helps them become productive citizens, rather than concentrating only on punishing them. What a novel idea.