Pubdate: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2001, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

DRUG COURT PARTICIPANTS GET SECOND CHANCE

Those fortunate enough to be sent to drug court have an excellent 
opportunity to turn their lives around and become productive citizens.

Time will tell how successful Cape Girardeau County's new drug court is, 
but if it works as well as those in other Missouri counties, the program 
should be around for a long time.

Drug courts are an alternative to incarceration designed to give 
nonviolent, first-time drug offenders supervised treatment.

Participants are recommended to the program by the prosecuting attorney. If 
they are successful, they are able to move on with their lives without a 
criminal conviction. That is accomplished by the judge ordering a suspended 
imposition of sentence. They first must plead guilty and prove themselves 
worthy of a suspended imposition of sentence by successfully completing the 
program and a probationary period.

 From the time people enter the program, every detail of their lives is 
scrutinized. Screened at least twice weekly for drugs, offenders are also 
required to attend drug-recovery meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or 
Narcotics Anonymous.

They are in daily contact with either a case worker, a probation officer or 
a drug counselor. Because everyone involved is in constant communication 
with each other, lies are quickly exposed and confrontations swift. Each 
Friday morning, they are held accountable by Associate Circuit Judge Peter 
Statler.

Participants who don't abide by the rules may quickly find themselves in 
jail or prison, where other first-time offenders not referred to drug court 
often end up.

Drug-court participants, many of whom are accused of felonies, are being 
given a second chance to straighten out their lives, and that means staying 
off drugs.

Participants should consider themselves fortunate to be able to participate 
in the program.

It offers plenty of incentive to seek sobriety through support of the court 
and other professionals, and if that isn't enough the alternative of 
incarceration should be.
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MAP posted-by: Beth