Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jul 2013
Source: Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Cornwall Standard Freeholder
Contact: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/letters
Website: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1169
Author: Kathryn Burnham
Page 3

TREATMENT ADVOCATES WANT OWN DRUG COURT

CORNWALL - Kim Cox is seeing a glimmer of hope after appearing in
criminal court many times to help her children deal with drug charges.

With two grown children fighting their own battles with addiction -
and occasionally the justice system - Cox has become a familiar face
at the courthouse, and she's equally familiar with the court system.

She arrived at a court date in June - her daughter in a bail hearing
on breach charges.

Cox was prepared to give the judge a piece of her mind - arguing her
daughter would only fall back into the arms of drugs if she was
released to yet another friend who would offer her a place to sleep,
generally in exchange for favours later.

But this day, Cox had more hope. She had spoken to her daughter the
night before and heard she wanted to stay in jail - the only place she
knew drugs wouldn't find her.

Yet by morning, her daughter had changed her mind.

But Cox wasn't giving up so easily. With an understanding lawyer
representing her daughter, and her sister and nieces on hand to help,
calls were made to find a place in rehab for the young woman.

Cornwall's courthouse is very familiar with the users and abusers in
town, a cast of characters that go generally unnoticed by residents of
the city.

But they are not unnoticed to lawyer Gaye Leroux - they are his
clients.

More than 75% of his clients are battling addiction or mental health
issues as well as the law, he estimates, which leads him to believe a
drug court would be beneficial for Cornwall.

Ottawa set up a drug treatment court in 2006 - one of nine in the
country.

Treatment takes place before sentencing - with regular court dates and
complete drug abstinence for three months a requirement as well as
drug testing.

"It fills that void between criminality and despair," said
Leroux.

"They all hit that void where they are just about to venture into that
criminal element and there is a cry for help - and we're handcuffed,"
the lawyer said of his clients who are often stealing or breaking in
to homes to feed the addiction.

The empathy exists amongst the lawyers and police, but the system
isn't designed for treatment, he said. Those charged find themselves
at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre - a warehouse.

"Putting them in jail just fills up the jails," said Cox's son Steve
Coleman. "They are being charged for a disease of emotion."

Coleman knows that sitting in jail for six months isn't the same as
receiving counselling - as he has gotten out only to find himself back
at the parties and back doing drugs.

"Drug court would be perfect because it's another way to
treatment."

In Ottawa, the same team of a specifically-assigned judge, Crown,
defense counsel, treatment provider and probation officer meet once a
week to speak to those who have qualified for the program.

Those who stick to the program of urine tests, drug treatment and
court visits are rewarded with gift certificates and coffee cards
along with applause.

Those who slip run the risk of being kicked out and sent to jail -
losing out on the possibility of a sentence as low as one day of
probation if successful in the full nine to 18 month program.

"You are going to lose some, but to lose them all is just a travesty,"
said Leroux.

"I don't know what it would cost, but it would save
us."

Funding, however, has been uncertain in recent years for the Ottawa
program so it is unlikely a place with such a small population will
get a drug treatment court - which is funded by the federal government.

- - with files from the Ottawa Sun
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MAP posted-by: Matt