Pubdate: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 Source: Manchester Times (TN) Copyright: Manchester Times 2005 Contact: http://www.manchestertimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1863 Author: Linda Barr NEW DRUG COURT COULD SAVE THOUSANDS, HELP ENSLAVED USERS Coffee County justice officials are following the lead of some 1,500 other communities across the country that have adopted an adult "drug court" system aimed at rehabilitating nonviolent drug offenders outside of a jail cell. General Sessions Court Judge Tim Brock is leading the charge to create a new drug court in the county - a court that would focus less on confinement and more on therapy, supervision and rehabilitation. In other areas, the innovative court system has reduced the rate of recidivism, or the rate that drug offenders are returning to prison, at an average price tag to taxpayers of $25,000 a year per inmate. Brock's completion of a three-day training session in Nashville was the first step toward implementation of the new system in Coffee County. While Brock will be the presiding judge over the drug court, Circuit Court judges John Rollins and Craig Johnson, along with General Sessions Court Judge Jere Ledsinger, have pledged their support of the program. The new court would have a separate docket and would be more informal than the judicial system's other criminal courts - Juvenile, Circuit and General Sessions. Judge Seth Norman presides over the Nashville model, one of the leading drug courts in the country, with its own inpatient facility that the court controls. "He's the envy of everyone who does this," Brock said. "The State Supreme Court and the legislature is encouraging us to create these courts," he added. Advocates of the drug court system say it is one of the most viable options for addressing non-violent drug offenders, whether they have entered the judicial system because of a criminal offense, delinquent behavior or the neglect or abuse of their children. "The best chance of keeping drug abusers out of long term incarceration must be a combination of punishment and a quality and lengthy rehabilitation program," Brock said. Research has shown that the class of offenders targeted by the drug court system is not deterred by the threat of incarceration alone and finds drug court more challenging than jail or prison. The court controls participants' activities through frequent drug testing (daily in some cases), intensive supervision and judicial monitoring. Swift sanctions are applied when participants violate terms of the program, from revocation of privileges to incarceration. Incentives are offered to those who follow program rules, including reduction of probation, breaks on program fees, counseling, treatment, education and help finding gainful employment. "The real key is long term after care for as long as two years," Brock said. "And meth is the hot drug right now. We're just a meth Mecca here," he said. "It's just a devastating addiction. It's the one drug, if they served 11 months in jail, the day they get out, they will be looking to find some. "The goal is to reduce the number of addicts who come back into the system after committing a new crime and to make them productive, tax-paying citizens." Proponents of the drug court are hopeful the new system will help relieve the problem of overcrowding at the Coffee County Jail. The jail recently lost its certification, along with about $400,000 in state funding. Participants in the program will answer to a team of professionals, including Debbie Hillin, a drug court coordinator with Buffalo Valley Rehab in Hohenwald, Tenn., who is assisting with the set up of drug courts in Tennessee. The team, under the direction of Brock, includes Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves, assistant district attorney Felicia Walkup, public defender Margo Lamb, a treatment representative, counselor and a probation officer. The team will meet weekly prior to the court date and will discuss the cases and status of each participant to determine whether progress is being made or sanctions should be applied. The drug court team plans to attend a three-day training session in May and another in September. During those meetings, the mechanics of the court will be established. "At the conclusion of that, we will begin the grant application process," Brock said. "We intend to do this whether we get grant money or not," he said. "We intend to have a small version of the drug court up and running by late June." Circuit Court Clerk Heather Duncan said attorneys would not be representing the participants in drug court. She said it would be closed to the public and the proceedings would be outside the normal criminal justice track. However, if participants do not comply with the program, their cases will revert back to the criminal justice system. Their probation could be revoked and they could be forced to serve their entire jail term. While the Coffee County court system has offered treatment to drug offenders in the past, it has not had the resources or manpower to ensure strict compliance with the various programs. Duncan spoke of other communities that are experiencing success with drug court. "I believe those success stories can happen here in Coffee County," she said. Brock added, "We need to get better at distinguishing the folks who are legitimate dangers to society and the ones who, with some structure and guidance, can put their lives back together and become productive, tax-paying citizens." And he said those struggling with addiction who have not yet entered the court system can feel free to contact members of the team for guidance in finding help outside the drug court. District Attorney Mickey Layne said he's open to new ideas. "This has worked successfully around the state," he said, adding other district attorneys who have drug courts in their districts highly recommend them. "Historically, we have prosecuted drug offenders over and over at great expense to the taxpayer. "Let's see if this new approach will rehabilitate some drug addicts and save money. Given our budgetary problems, we're going to have to be innovative." Graves said drug courts have worked in Williamson and other counties. "Coffee County was fourth in the number of meth labs seized last year. Meth has increased our jail population and prisoner medical costs," Graves said. "We've got to do something. I think it might work." A report by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals says incarceration of drug using offenders can range from $20,000 to $50,000 per person per year. The capital costs of building a prison cell can be as much as $80,000. In contrast, a comprehensive drug court system typically costs between $2,500 and $4,000 annually for each offender. John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, says drug courts are a vital essential element of the national drug control strategy. "While offering incentives to stay off drugs, they hold individuals accountable and simultaneously deal with the deadly disease of addiction," he said. "America is better off because of drug courts." - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)