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