Pubdate: Thu, 07 Sep 2000
Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112
Fax: 805.781.7905
Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/
Author: Leila W. Knox, The Tribune

OFF DRUGS, OUT OF PRISON

As Robin De Jong watched her son graduate Wednesday afternoon, she 
reflected on all the things he won't do.

Most importantly, Rick De Jong, 33, said he won't use drugs anymore, thanks 
to his yearlong participation in county drug court. He also said he won't 
lie, associate with his former drug buddies or break promises to his family.

"It's like my son is back," Robin said. "He's a person again."

Rick De Jong, who lives in Grover Beach, was one of nine people to graduate 
from the county's first round of drug court - a program made possible by a 
$384,000 federal grant. Over the last year, those probationers, all 
convicted for felony drug use, went to regular substance abuse treatment 
sessions, met weekly with a judge and were visited regularly by their 
probation officers.

"When I first started it, I was totally against it," Rick De Jong said. 
"But the longer I was clean, the better my life got."

Life got so much better, in fact, that De Jong, like most graduates, 
probably will not return to his old ways.

"When these guys hit the streets, they have as much going for them as 
possible," said Gary Joralemon, a supervising probation officer for the county.

Studies have shown that those released from prison often reoffend because 
they have no place to live, no job and no support, Joralemon said.

"But when all those things are in place, their chance of reoffending goes 
way way down, and it really puts the community at less risk."

Like others in the San Luis Obispo program, Rick De Jong was recommended 
for drug court by a probation officer, then hand-picked by a judge.

"Anyone is eligible for drug court as long as he does not have a history of 
violence or drug sales," Joralemon said.

After being picked for the program - which is not voluntary - the 
probationers are assigned to one of the three drug court judges.

Some offenders are required to serve jail time, which is spent in a special 
drug court unit that provides them with the daily treatment necessary for 
recovery.

Once out of jail, they are visited regularly - but often unannounced - by a 
probation officer. They also are required to attend nightly treatment sessions.

"Generally our approach is toward the disease of addiction, rather than a 
particular drug," said Michael Bove, program supervisor for drug court. 
"Primarily, what we're working through is helping them change the way that 
they think."

Jon Dracup, an Arroyo Grande resident, said he could not have overcome his 
drug addiction without the program.

"The obsession is gone," said the 45-year-old cabinet maker, "and I credit 
it in part to this program."

The relationship the probationers develop with their assigned judge also 
helps keep the participants on track.

"We give them that support, and they know we're watching and want them to 
succeed," said Judge Christopher Money. "We're unfortunately there to 
punish them if they don't succeed."

A participant's slip-up could mean additional community work hours, more 
time in jail or expulsion from the program.

"We've had some failures," Money said, "but we've had more successes than 
failures."

According to an American University study, the recidivism rate for drug 
court participants is lower than for those who go through the traditional 
court system. Additionally, retention in programs nationally is high.

Drug court was originally brought to this county two years ago by Money, 
who was initially skeptical about the program.

"I had my doubts at first," he said. "I did not know why it was necessary 
to handle cases this way. But after doing it for a while, I'm absolutely 
convinced that it helps people overcome their addictions to illegal 
substances."

After that original incarnation of the court, probation officials applied 
for the $384,000 grant, which enabled the county to run the current program 
for 18 months. The money was enough for two drug court probation officers, 
supplies for drug testing and an intensive drug treatment program.

For the public, drug court means less money spent on each offender: The 
program costs about $2,000 per person for the entire program, while one 
year's incarceration in a California state prison is about $21,000.

Prison was a likely option for the probationers had they not been chosen 
for the program, Joralemon said.

"They were exhibiting patterns of behavior that lead us to believe that, if 
there hadn't been significant intervention, the chances of them going to 
prison were relatively high," he said.

But funds for this round of drug court run out in December, and the county 
is now scrambling to find additional sources.

"We have a full-time probation unit that seeks out funds," Joralemon said 
of the department's efforts.

He added he is "optimistically hopeful" that funding from state sources 
will come through. If not, the program could begin and end with the current 
75 drug court participants.

Even if it does, the initial 18-month program was enough to change Rick De 
Jong's life. His health and personal relations have improved. And the 
muscular, goateed man has rediscovered an old passion he thought was long 
forgotten because of his drug use: surfing.
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