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HIGH DESERT TO GET JUVENILE DRUG COURT

Certain young offenders will get a better shot at turning their lives around

VICTORVILLE -- High Desert teenagers who let their drug problems draw them into crime will soon have a better chance at a fresh start in life.

Early next year, the Victorville Courthouse is planning to start a High Desert Juvenile Drug Court - a program modeled after the highly successful adult drug court, Judge Margaret Powers said.

The Juvenile Drug Court will provide a comprehensive drug treatment program that includes counseling, a 12-step program, community service, education classes and weekly accountability.

Teen drug use is a major problem in the High Desert.  The vast majority of teens in the juvenile court process - 60 to 70 percent - have a history of drug use, whether experimental or intensive, Dan Ochoa, supervising probation officer for San Bernardino County, Victorville, said.

Drug Courts are a tool used to fight teen drug addiction and courts in nearly every county in California have a Juvenile Drug Court.

"The objective of the Drug Court is really to reduce the number of kids placed out of home - to cure them of drug addiction in an effort to reduce their delinquency ...  and prevent them from being locked up or sent to a placement facility," said Brad Johnson, division director of the San Bernardino County Probation Department.

Juveniles eligible for the program must admit they have a drug problem, Johnson said.  The court agrees to dismiss the charges filed against participants who complete their program.

"Very often in the current probation program, the juvenile can commit two or three violations before ( there are consequences )," Powers said, adding juveniles in the Drug Court program are required to come to court once a week.

"We can currently order day treatment, but day treatment is not as comprehensive - under the Drug Court, juveniles come to court and are held accountable."

"Another big reason for the Drug Court is to reduce drug abuse so they attend school more," Johnson said.

Currently, there are about 550 juveniles on supervised probation in the Victor Valley.  Of those, officials will select 20 to 30 to invite into the program for the initial phase.

Juveniles charged with any offense are eligible for the program.

Typically, the Adult Drug Court imposes sanctions for non-attendance, Powers said.

"We're going to try to focus on positive incentives such as recreational opportunities, food and movie coupons, and recreational ball games, for example," she said.

The program is not open to juveniles with a background of violence, excessive criminality and gang connections, she added.

Victorville hopes to fund its Drug Court program through federal grants and money from the county office of Alcohol and Drug Programs, she said.