Pubdate: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 Source: Finger Lakes Times (NY) Copyright: Finger Lakes Times 2002 Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1206 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2074 Author: Gina Muscato Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) YATES TO START DRUG COURT PENN YAN - When Yates County District Attorney Susan Lindenmuth first heard about drug treatment court, she breathed a sign of relief. "I thought about all the people who use the revolving door - who come in, go to jail, go to prison, go to probation and then are back out committing crime," Lindenmuth said. "So, I sort of felt that we didn't have the right tool to address the problem." She hopes the new Yates County Drug Treatment Court will be that tool. Drug court's purpose is to change the way the criminal justice system handles people addicted to drugs and alcohol and often involved in crimes. Its mission is to establish and maintain a cooperative effort by the criminal justice system, treatment rehabilitation providers and the community to reduce crime and alcohol and drug dependency while ensuring public safety. Instituted by the New York state courts system, drug treatment court is slated to begin in Yates County Jan. 8. Ontario, Seneca and Wayne counties all started similar programs this year. Plans for the program, which have been under way since October 2001, were presented to representatives of government, businesses, education, churches, service and charitable organizations Thursday at the courthouse. The program allows low-level, non-violent drug offenders to choose treatment over the risk of prison and jail time, County Judge W. Patrick Falvey said. Participants will sign a contract committing themselves to completing the program, which Falvey said will provide not only addiction treatment but also a chance to obtain a high school diploma, job training and possible placement. Graduation comes after 12 to 30 consecutive drug-free months. However, failure to complete the program may result in sanctions, including writing essays, termination from the program, community service or jail time. Rewards are offered for reaching drug-free milestones, including the chance of additional visitation rights for those defendants whose children are in foster care, Falvey said. The drug court concept started in 1989 in Dade County, Florida, where officials recognized the revolving door and its cost to the community. All 50 states and 62 counties in New York have - or soon will establish - drug courts. "Drug courts have become problem-solving courts, which are going on the offensive by using available community resources to address this issue, since doing it the old way is not as successful as we'd like," Falvey said. The key to the success of drug court is that the program brings together supervision, the power of the court and the tools of drug treatment for immediate sanction or reward, Falvey said, adding that the participant is accountable at every step of the program. In the initial stages, participants will see the drug court judge on a weekly basis. The judge will know whether a participant has stayed clean and sober based on intensive random drug testing, which is often three times or more per week at first, Falvey said. "Dirty" tests bring immediate sanctions, which vary in severity. Also, a dirty test means the participant has to begin the program all over again. Falvey acknowledged that some may view the program as too soft. "At first glance, the drug court may seem to be an easy alternative to jail or prison," he said. However, participants must first plead guilty to their crimes and understand the sentencing parameters of successful completion or termination. After the initial detoxification period, participants are released from custody if they complete the program. Participants can be ordered to complete drug court as part of their sentence or as a result of a probation violation. Handling things the old way was frustrating and expensive, Falvey said, and when dealing with drug addiction, it doesn't address the root cause. Falvey outlined some of drug court's benefits to the community, which include a drastic reduction in drug use, less criminal activity, reduced court costs, less overtime and an increase in law enforcement's ability to concentrate on more serious crimes. He also noted that a clean and sober person will be better able to work and support his or her family and pay taxes. Falvey added that no additional funding or personnel is required to begin the program. "Initially, we want to make this work with what we have at our disposal and what our strengths are and what are assets are in Yates County," he said. Tom Streb, supportive living coordinator for the Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency, said his organization will be the treatment provider for the drug court. FLACRA - which is about 30 years old - has an office in Penn Yan. Streb said he has worked with six drug court clients from around the area, and four have had a measure of success. "If those statistics reflect anything it's that this program is good," he said. Howard Davis of the Yates County Sheriff's Department and Jeff Dawes of the Penn Yan Police Department said the program will be positive because of its proactive approach. Dawes said the plan provides leverage for keeping the participants in treatment, and there's a team in place to help them make changes in their lives through counseling, job training and other programs. "We can provide that circle of security around this person to give them a stable lifestyle where they're substance-free and hopefully get them on their feet and make them an employable, productive member of our community," Dawes said. County Public Defender Ed Brockman admitted he originally was skeptical and thought people who used drugs and alcohol and committed a crime were basically getting a break through drug court. He said he now realizes this will work more than anything else because of its intensity and the team approach with people from different disciplines being involved. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex