Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 Source: Charleston Gazette (WV) Copyright: 2002 Charleston Gazette Contact: http://www.wvgazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/77 Author: Rachelle Bott DRUG COURT TO HELP COUNTY TEENS REPAIR LIFE Every Thursday, Sandra Boggs meets with troubled Kanawha County students, their principal and their parents. She discusses the students' problems and possible solutions. Boggs noticed a trend with Kanawha County students: Many of their problems were drug-related. "When it comes to drug-related activities, there isn't a lot we can do [in the school system]," said Boggs, the county's director of student affairs and alternative schools. "I felt like we needed to address these problems in a different way or better way than we can handle." So she approached social workers, attorneys and judges at the Kanawha County Courthouse about creating the first drug court in the county. After meeting for months, organizers are ready to ask the state Department of Health and Human Resources for the money to start the program. Terrell Ellis was hired to prepare a grant application to ask for $300,000 to $400,000 a year for three years. The application is due Wednesday, but the court's supporters won't know if it's approved until August. If the grant is approved, organizers will have only a few weeks to iron out the details and get the program started. It must be up and running by Sept. 30, Ellis said. The teen drug court would function as a diversion program, but juveniles could enter the program at any stage in the court process, organizers said. "Conceivably if a kid is on a probation and they violate probation, they could get sent to drug court," Ellis said. Chief Circuit Judge James C. Stucky would oversee the program. Organizers said the program would start off small, but could eventually have as many as 50 participants. Prosecutors agree that drugs - primarily marijuana - are becoming a bigger problem in the school system. Assistant prosecutor Chris McClung said the program would be primarily for first-time drug offenders. Prosecutors could conceivably refer a juvenile to drug court and drop the charges if he or she successfully completes the program. Repeat offenders would be viewed differently, he said. The first step to being enrolled in the program is accepting responsibility, organizers said. "They have to admit they have a problem," McClung said. Prosecutors would warn juvenile offenders who enter the diversion program about the consequences if they fail. "They are referred back to juvenile court," McClung said. Drug court is not a baby-sitting service, organizers warned. Parents and the community must get involved to help the troubled teens get back on track, Ellis said. "Parents will have to agree that they will play a big role in this," she said. "If a student is in this, he has to buy into it and so do the parents." The initial phase of the program will be based on clinical treatment, breaking the addiction. Students must take drug screens throughout the program. The second phase is geared more toward setting personal goals and establishing a support system, Ellis said. Organizers haven't established any hard rules about how to handle a student who slips while in the program, said Court Administrator Bill Murray. A teen may be moved back a phase if he starts to fail, he said, but there won't be a lot of room for slip-ups. "This isn't a program that you'll get a lot of free bites out of the apple. You'll either comply or not," Murray said. Ellis and Boggs said they wanted to create a program that had a lot of community support. Faith-based organizations, such as Team Agape and the Institute for Courageous Destinies, are involved in the program. Prestera is expected to provide the professional treatment program. "They need other interests and people to help tutor them," Boggs said. "A lot of these kids are failing. We need all kind of support involved in this program." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens