Pubdate: Sun, 12 May 2002
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2002 Chattanooga Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Author: Pat Mahony
Note: [Times Free Press] Editor's Note: Participants in the drug diversion 
program are identified only with first names because of privacy issues.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

OFFICIALS SAY DRUG COURT WORKS

DALTON, Ga. -- If one fails, all feel the pain, the judge said.

Superior Court Judge Jack Partrain says that's because participants work 
together in the Conasauga Judicial Circuit drug court, an experimental 
program he started Feb. 12.

The drug court takes first-time felony drug offenders who want to stop 
using drugs and places them in an intensive, two-year outpatient program 
instead of the county jail.

Drug court is a team effort, Judge Partain said.

It's comprised of officials from the sheriff's office, the Dalton Police 
Department, the district attorney's office, the public defender's office, 
treatment staff members, drug court coordinator George Shirilla and Judge 
Partain.

"This has been roughly a two-year process," Mr. Shirilla said.

Volunteer participants learn in phases how to live without the need for 
illicit drugs. They undergo daily group counseling sessions, three times 
weekly probation appointments, weekly sessions with Judge Partain, and 
multiple substance abuse meetings. The number of meetings are reduced as 
the participants progress, Judge Partain said.

Essays on issues of trust, partnerships and other topics are required as 
homework and are discussed during counseling sessions. Those who don't turn 
in the paperwork receive community service time, officials said.

Cathy began participating in the program one week ago.

Her probation officer, Charles Hayes, explained to team members in a 
staffing meeting prior to the court session that Cathy had failed the most 
recent drug test after using methamphetamine.

Instead of sending her to prison or kicking her out of the program, Judge 
Partain explained to Cathy that consequences follow actions.

"You had a great start, but you had a problem over the weekend. Actually, 
there were a couple of problems over the weekend," Judge Partain said. "You 
have to get your priorities in order. You have to manage your disease of 
addiction."

Judge Partain ordered Cathy to spend two days in jail, and upon her 
release, attend the next group counseling session. As the judge spoke, 
Cathy shook her head, crossed her arms and looked at the floor. Tears 
welled in the eyes of three other group members as Cathy was ordered back 
to jail.

"What happens to one happens to all," Judge Partain said about the group 
response. "It's an interesting dynamic."

Angela, 37, began the program earlier this year following a brush with 
death involving cocaine and alcohol, she said.

"(The program) saved my life. I almost died in the intensive care unit," 
she said.

Angela, like other group members, has formed trusting relationships with 
other group members. When another member, Ron, decided to quit cooperating 
with the demands of the program, another participant took him aside and 
warned him to shape up. Later, Ron was sent to a detention center for three 
months, counselor Dave Thompson said.

"The group was fine with it," Mr. Thompson said. "The group was in favor of 
a pretty harsh sanction. He was told, "We are here to recover." It was 
obvious what their feelings were: They didn't want to be dragged down by 
his weight."

Participants range in age from their 20s to 40s. Some have as little as a 
ninth-grade education, while one has a bachelor's degree.

Angela has had some college computer classes. She has been clean and sober 
for 30 days.

"This will be the first time I've lived alone in 36 years," Angela said. 
"It's been hard, but I'm doing OK."

Tanya, 32, entered the program Tuesday.

Dressed in a county issued striped orange jumpsuit, with her hands shackled 
to her waist, Tanya's actions were described to her in court. She had been 
caught with a crack cocaine pipe, a plastic baggy and other paraphernalia 
while visiting a residence that was being searched.

Her choice was a minimum two years in prison or the program. She chose the 
program.

She wept as she agreed to participate. "Thank you for helping me," she said.

Whitfield County's drug court is one of just a few in the state and about 
700 nationwide, Mr. Shirilla said.

"The whole idea dates back to the late 1980s, when Janet Reno was a 
district attorney in Florida. She determined that what we are doing in the 
legal system was not as effective as we had hoped at the felony level," Mr. 
Shirilla said.

The idea behind drug court is to make a former drug user a contributing 
member of society instead of a financial burden, Mr. Shirilla said.

Conasauga Judicial Circuit drug court is funded by a government grant, 
court funds, fines collected by the courts for drug abuse treatment 
education and participant fees. Three first-time felony drug offenders are 
interviewed weekly for possible enrollment in the program, and recidivism 
is about 20 percent, Mr. Shirilla said.

"We built this from nothing, and it's coming along quite well," Judge 
Partain said. "We are proud as we can be of the program participants.

"Drug court works. For every dollar the government spends on drug court, 
the return is $10."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel