Pubdate: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Contact: 2003 West Hawaii Today Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Author: Karen Iwamoto, West Hawaii Today Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) JUVENILE DRUG COURT TO DEBUT IN JANUARY The Big Island Drug Court will have a juvenile program by January, said Third Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra, who is also the administrative judge for the island's drug court. "According to statistics, 80 to 90 percent of the juveniles under family court have substance abuse involvement," said Warren Kitaoka, Big Island Drug Court administrator. "Substance abuse is a major problem among adults and juveniles on the Big Island." The juvenile program will be similar to the adult program, which was implemented in October, but will offer fewer openings and more individual attention, Ibarra said. There are 37 people enrolled in the adult drug court program, including 21 in West Hawaii and 16 in East Hawaii, according to drug court statistics. The program has the capacity to take 50, 25 from each side of the island. By contrast, the juvenile program will admit a total of 16 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 - eight from each side of the island. "Kids are different from adults," Ibarra said, adding the issues teenagers deal with warrant closer supervision. Big Island Family Court officials will recommend teenagers for enrollment in the juvenile drug court program, Ibarra said. By enrolling in the program, the teenager will receive substance abuse treatment and could avoid harsher punishment from a traditional court. Qualifications for the teenagers will be similar to those enrolled in the adult program - a history of substance abuse, no prior conviction for a violent crime - - but will also consider such factors as family and school support, Ibarra said. "We're going to work closely with parents and school administrators," he said. Like the adults, the teenagers will have to remain in the program for at least one year to be eligible for graduation. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk