Pubdate: Sun, 24 May 2009 Source: Richmond Register (KY) Copyright: 2009 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. Contact: http://www.richmondregister.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4305 Author: Brian Smith Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) DRUG COURT SEEKS JOBS FOR PARTICIPANTS A program that gives people convicted of drug offenses a second chance is celebrating its 20th anniversary nationwide and is seeking local volunteer opportunities. Madison Circuit Judge Jean C. Logue, who heads up the Clark and Madison County Drug Court, said the program is seeking additional volunteer community service opportunities for participants in the program. "We're always looking for good volunteer jobs," Logue said. "They help here at the courthouse, and we sent some people to help the city with cleanup from the ice storm." Drug court is a criminal justice program that began in Miami in 1989 to give people who plead guilty to drug-related crimes the opportunity to receive supervised treatment for their addiction instead of being incarcerated. Currently, 84 judges in Kentucky preside over drug court programs in more than half of the state's 120 counties, and federal Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance counts more than 2,000 active drug court programs across the country. Madison County's program began approximately 10 years ago under former Circuit Judge Julia Adams. Logue said the program, which covers Madison and Clark counties, has 12 to 14 participants and some graduates in an aftercare program. Drug court participants can enter the program either by requesting an assessment from the judge following a guilty plea, or under the terms of a diversion agreement with prosecutors. To be eligible, applicants cannot have a history of violence or sex crimes, and Logue said generally that applicants have been convicted of possession of controlled substances and not trafficking with few exceptions. "We have a very wide variety of people from all walks of life," Logue said. Once in the program, Logue said there are a number of requirements for participants. "They have to undergo random drug testing every week," Logue said. "They call in every morning between 7:30 and 8:30 to find out if they're being tested." Each participant is tested at least three times each week while in the first phase of the program, which focuses on ending dependency on drugs. "We want to stabilize them and try to get them clean," Logue said. During the first phase, participants attend one court session weekly, attend counseling sessions and begin working on education and employment. "They have to get their GED, and they have to apply for jobs," Logue said. "If you're not working, you have to volunteer on community service projects." Logue said participants in her program now will be receiving two group counseling sessions as soon as they are accepted, and individual counseling also will be available if needed. Participants also are required to attend 12-step meetings. While drug court participants are not incarcerated while in the program, they still can be sent to prison to serve their sentences if they fail the program, and minor infractions can result in stays at the Madison County Detention Center. "A missed test or a test that's been tampered with is considered a positive test," Logue said. "Sometimes we have tests that come back as ‘diluted samples,' which mean they've been watered down." In phase two of the program, participants are tested twice weekly at random and must attend court every two weeks while maintaining their employment, volunteer work or education. Participants also must remain in contact with the case specialist for the court, Audrey Posvic, who is responsible for helping participants with job applications and volunteer work, approving requests to travel outside the county and coordinating other portions of the program. Logue said that as a part of her efforts to expand the program by offering more educational opportunities, the court may add an additional case specialist. "We've applied for some educational grants," Logue said. In the last phase of the program, participants are tested once a week at random and must continue to attend self-help meetings and counseling sessions. "By phase three, you can see a change," Logue said. "It's a lot of accountability in drug court. It is a very strict program. If you mess up, there are consequences." Logue said statewide statistics indicate that only 20 percent of drug court graduates commit another felony within two years, compared to 57 percent of people who do not participate in the program. "The hope is to help them see a different side of life so they don't end up back in the criminal justice system," Logue said. "It's a chance to stop the cycle." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom