Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2007
Source: Idaho Mountain Express (ID)
Copyright: 2007 Express Publishing, Inc
Contact:  http://www.mtexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2296
Author: Greg Moore, Express Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

DRUG COURT SET TO BEGIN JUNE 1

A drug court--which provides treatment rather than  prison terms for 
chronic users of illegal drugs--is  expected to be in operation in 
Blaine County by June 1.

Blaine will become the 31st of Idaho's 44 counties to  have such a court.

Drug courts allow those charged with drug-related  crimes to have 
their guilty pleas erased after  successfully completing an 18-month 
treatment program.  The option is not available to anyone charged 
with selling drugs or with a violent or sexually related  felony, or 
to illegal aliens.

Members of the county's drug court development team  obtained support 
for the program from the Blaine County  commissioners after 
presenting the benefits of drug  courts during a commission meeting Tuesday.

Fifth District Court Judge Robert Elgee told the  commissioners that 
most local felonies, such as  burglaries and embezzlements, are 
drug-related. He said  nationwide studies have shown that prison 
terms generally do not cure the underlying problem.

"Over the past few decades, our focus has begun to  shift and we're 
becoming much more aware of outcomes,"  Lincoln County Magistrate 
Judge Mark Ingram said.  Ingram said that nationwide, the recidivism 
rate for  those serving sentences for drug-related crimes is 67 
percent within three years of their release. He said  the recidivism 
rate for people who have completed drug  court programs is 16 percent 
after one year and 27  percent after two years.

Ingram said drug court programs are also far cheaper  than prison. He 
said a study in Multnomah County, Ore.,  which includes Portland, 
showed the county saved $10 in  court and prison costs for every $1 
it spent on drug  court.

Drug courts use the threat of prison terms to compel  defendants to 
enter into 20 hours of treatment per  week. They are subject to 
random urine tests and  searches to ensure their compliance.

Blaine County's drug court will initially provide  treatment for 10 
people. It will be funded by state  money, though it will require 
volunteer work by  numerous people already involved in the local 
justice  system.

"We're all passionate about this program," adult  probation officer 
Jodie Fuller told the commissioners.

Elgee said county citizens have also offered to help  with the program.

"A lot of people who are drug addicts don't feel that  they are part 
of any community," he said. "When they  see that there are people out 
there willing to help  them, that helps with their problem."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman