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JUVENILE COURT PRACTICES EARLY INTERVENTION

County's Program First And Only In State

ST.  ALBANS CITY- "It starts younger than anyone wants to think," said state's attorney Jim Hughes in a discussion of Franklin County's Juvenile Drug Court.  One of only a handful of juvenile drug courts in the country, and the only one in Vermont, the Franklin County program puts non-violent offenders through a rigorous program designed to help them end their substance use.

In order to qualify for the program, offenders must be 13 to 16 years old, have committed more than one non-violent offense, and admit to having a substance abuse problem, according to program coordinator Mary Mossey.  Hughes recommends admittance to the program but a judge makes the final determination.

Alcohol and marijuana are the most commonly used substances, although some participants have used cocaine and pills.  Partying isn't often the issue, said Tricia Brett of the Agency of Human Services, "they're self-medicating."

One of the advantages drug court has over other types of treatment programs is that it includes comprehensive treatment that can get at the underlying causes of substance abuse problems, according to case manager Jason Lantagne.

The program, which began in May, is intended to help teens that have failed in traditional treatment settings.

Currently, there are two youth participants with one in orientation and two more who have been recommended.  Ten is the maximum number of juvenile drug offenders that will be admitted to the program.

Based on behavior modification, the program offers incentives for positive behavior and sanctions for negative behavior.  Sanctions may include a curfew or additional random drug tests.  New participants are tested three times per week.

Incentives include gift certificates, event tickets, and sporting equipment donated to the program through the Agency of Human Services or state's attorney Jim Hughes' office.

The incentives can have a surprising impact, according to Brett.  The gave one participant a gift certificate for Ben & Jerry's ice cream and heard about it for three weeks, she reported.

Brett emphasized the importance of coming before the judge once a week.  Unlike in a traditional courtroom, it is the teens, not court officials, who speak to the judge.  "They like reporting in and saying 'I did a good job,'" Brett said.

Doing a good job isn't easy.  To succeed participants must change the people, places and things in their lives, breaking away from friends who supported their substance use and other destructive behaviors.  For young teens that can mean changing their whole lives, Hughes said.

Staff, including Lantagne, Brett, Moss, Hughes and Vermont District Court Judge Howard Van Benthuysen, meets weekly to discuss each case.  The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provided initial staff training.

In addition to incentives, the program needs healthy mentors.