Pubdate: Wed, 25 Oct 2000
Source: Journal-News (OH)
Copyright: 2000 Thomson Newspapers
Contact:  228 Court Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Fax: (513) 863-7988
Feedback: http://www.journal-news.com/edit.html
Website: http://www.journal-news.com/
Author: Jessica Brown

DRUG COURT A POSITIVE FOR JUDGE, CASES

When he agreed four years ago to preside over the county's new drug court, 
Judge Randy Rogers didn't know what to expect.

"It was an experiment," he said. "We were starting something new; we didn't 
know if it would work or not."

After four years, he recently turned the program over to another judge, but 
not before seeing it change hundreds of lives for the better, including his 
own.

"Being the drug court judge has changed me quite a bit," he said. "You're 
actually making a difference in people's lives."

The first drug court was started 10 years ago in Florida with the objective 
to take non-violent drug offenders and offer them treatment rather than 
pure punishment, Rogers said. With that as the model, Butler County began 
its own in 1996 and Rogers volunteered to be its first judge.

"It's probably been one of the most positive things in the community," he 
said, adding that an achievement he is most proud of was when the Hamilton 
Police Department presented him with a certificate of appreciation thanking 
him for his "outstanding leadership."

"Your actions have saved lives," stated the certificate. When a case is 
accepted to drug court, the person pleads guilty to their charges and then 
must complete a four-phase treatment program as an alternate to doing 
prison time. The program lasts 48 weeks, then the person "graduates," and 
90 percent of the time stays clean, Rogers said. Though there are some 
heartbreaking cases, he said, there are many success stories that are a 
source of inspiration, Rogers said, and constantly reassure him that the 
program works.

He said in drug court, the judge often acts in a "parent role," offering 
both punishment and praise and building an ongoing relationship with the 
people in the program.

Rogers recounted one instance in which a woman enrolled in a treatment 
program had a relapse and had to come back in front of him for her violation.

"She was clean for about a year and a half and then she fell out," he said. 
"I asked her what happened and she started to cry."

"And there I was at the bench in my judge's robe and she was standing in 
front of me in a prison jumpsuit and shackles on her ankles E and tears 
were welling up because I was choking out the words that sentenced her to 
prison. Afterwards, I put my arm around her and told her we were all behind 
her, then I went into my chambers and wept."

He said shortly thereafter he began receiving letters from the woman, 
thanking him for "forcing" her back into recovery again.

"I am determined to make everyone, especially myself, proud of me again," 
she wrote. "I was so humiliated when I had to come before you, that's why I 
cried so hard. I'm going to get out of here a better person."

He said it's letters like this, and a card he received his last day on the 
bench signed by numerous drug court members thanking him for helping them 
change their lives, that make the job worth while.

He said that's why the decision to leave was difficult. But in the end, he 
decided it was best for the program.

"You should never build a program around one person," he said. "It's 
important for a program to be a part of the whole system. It needed someone 
like me to start and sustain it for the first few years, but to be part of 
the system it needs other people. The fact that it is still doing well 
(under a different judge) means it is a success.

"It was very difficult for me to step aside."

In August, Rogers turned the program over to Butler County Common Pleas 
Judge Keith Spaeth.

Now, Rogers said, there are more than 800 drug courts around the country, 
and the idea is catching on. "(Drug courts) work," Rogers said. "They are 
hard work, but people are finding that they work."

Rogers currently is pouring his energies into being probate judge. He also 
is concentrating on mental health issues in the courts and often gives 
speeches to school groups about saying no to drugs.

When asked if he would return as a drug court judge, Rogers said he would 
"leave that door open."

Drug court meets in Butler County's "Super Courtroom" on the second floor 
of the Government Services Center.
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