Pubdate: Mon, 10 Feb 2003
Source: High Point Enterprise (NC)
Copyright: 2003 High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.hpe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/576
Author: Robert Boyer

DRUG COURT SEES SUCCESS

Those peeking into a cramped Greensboro courtroom for the first time might 
be surprised by what they see.

Judges doling out praise and perks instead of punishment to admitted drug 
and alcohol offenders. District attorneys shaking hands with those they 
once prosecuted. Defendants anxious to please. No, this isn't justice gone 
haywire, but rather a court that employs treatment in lieu of punishment 
for non-violent substance abusers and addicts who run afoul of the law.

Called the E. Raymond Alexander Drug Treatment Court, the Guilford County 
District Court program targets those who have been charged with felonious 
substance abuse or possession.

Implemented in 1996 as a pilot program of the legislature, drug treatment 
courts were made a permanent fixture of the state court system three years 
later.

Twelve judicial districts, including those in Forsyth and Randolph 
counties, have drug courts. To be eligible, clients sign a plea agreement 
and are put on supervised probation, but avoid jail time.

"It's a treatment program, but it's set up like a court," said Alexey 
Ferrell, Guilford County drug court coordinator. "It's a very structured 
program. I tell (the clients), 'Sometimes you'll wish we didn't know you as 
well as we do.'"

The Guilford court began accepting referrals Nov. 18 and holding court 
toward the end of December, Ferrell said.

"We're still working out the kinks," she said.

A treatment team that includes a case manager, probation officer, treatment 
representative, judge and district attorney are assigned to each case.

The first 90-day phase of the three-phase program focuses on meeting client 
needs, housing, education, employment and getting offenders started on the 
road to recovery through daily activities.

Participants come to court about every two weeks, where the team evaluates 
their progress. They also attend group meetings such as Alcoholics or 
Narcotics Anonymous.

Those who meet stated goals receive incentives like movie tickets. Those 
who don't run the risk of being slapped with sanctions that include jail time.

The last phase usually involves probation or after care, Ferrell said. The 
three 90-day segments take anywhere from a year to 18 months to complete, 
depending on the progress of each client.

Program graduates are recognized during a ceremony and have their charges 
dismissed. Those who fail to complete their obligations are returned to 
court to be sentenced on their original charges.

What makes drug court different from most other judicial proceedings is its 
focus on successful treatment, not punishment.

"Drug court shifts the emphasis from being strictly punitive to 
rehabilitation," Ferrell said.

Positive peer pressure propels some to succeed.

"Wanting to do well, wanting to be commended by a judge, is fantastic 
motivation," she said.

Despite the local program's infancy and low numbers (four clients are 
enrolled currently), Ferrell said it is beginning to reap results.

"One woman has just been our star," Ferrell said. "She's been clean three 
months and become an NA facilitator."

Aside from the obvious benefits to clients, Ferrell said the program makes 
society safer and saves tax dollars.

Citing state and national crime statistics, she said 80 percent of criminal 
offenders are involved in some way with drugs or alcohol, with most being 
addicts.

It costs about $23,000 a year to house a state prisoner, compared to only 
about $2,500 annually to treat drug court enrollees.

Overall, drug and alcohol abuse costs taxpayers about $275 billion annually 
through increased law enforcement and health care costs and accidents and 
lost productivity.

Ferrell said it is too early to say how much of a dent in the problem the 
Guilford court will make, but she points to a strong Forsyth County program 
that she said is having a major impact.

Mecklenburg and Durham counties have family drug courts, and five counties, 
including Forsyth, have a juvenile version in addition to adult drug court.

Ferrell praised the Forsyth drug courts as model programs and said she 
hopes to one day have all of them in Guilford County and an adult drug 
court in the High Point branch of the judicial system.

James L. Pettiford, the director of the city of High Point's Human 
Relations Commission, shares Ferrell's hopes. Pettiford said a High Point 
drug court would reduce substance abuse in the city, which he estimated may 
be worse per capita than in Greensboro.

As part of Human Relations month, Pettiford has scheduled a meeting for 
those interested in learning about drug treatment court and gauge support 
for eventually bringing it to High Point.

The gathering will be 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Roy B. Culler Jr. Senior 
Center, 600 N. Hamilton St.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens