Pubdate: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA) Copyright: 2000 The Tribune Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Fax: 805.781.7905 Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/ Author: Leila W. Knox, The Tribune OFF DRUGS, OUT OF PRISON As Robin De Jong watched her son graduate Wednesday afternoon, she reflected on all the things he won't do. Most importantly, Rick De Jong, 33, said he won't use drugs anymore, thanks to his yearlong participation in county drug court. He also said he won't lie, associate with his former drug buddies or break promises to his family. "It's like my son is back," Robin said. "He's a person again." Rick De Jong, who lives in Grover Beach, was one of nine people to graduate from the county's first round of drug court - a program made possible by a $384,000 federal grant. Over the last year, those probationers, all convicted for felony drug use, went to regular substance abuse treatment sessions, met weekly with a judge and were visited regularly by their probation officers. "When I first started it, I was totally against it," Rick De Jong said. "But the longer I was clean, the better my life got." Life got so much better, in fact, that De Jong, like most graduates, probably will not return to his old ways. "When these guys hit the streets, they have as much going for them as possible," said Gary Joralemon, a supervising probation officer for the county. Studies have shown that those released from prison often reoffend because they have no place to live, no job and no support, Joralemon said. "But when all those things are in place, their chance of reoffending goes way way down, and it really puts the community at less risk." Like others in the San Luis Obispo program, Rick De Jong was recommended for drug court by a probation officer, then hand-picked by a judge. "Anyone is eligible for drug court as long as he does not have a history of violence or drug sales," Joralemon said. After being picked for the program - which is not voluntary - the probationers are assigned to one of the three drug court judges. Some offenders are required to serve jail time, which is spent in a special drug court unit that provides them with the daily treatment necessary for recovery. Once out of jail, they are visited regularly - but often unannounced - by a probation officer. They also are required to attend nightly treatment sessions. "Generally our approach is toward the disease of addiction, rather than a particular drug," said Michael Bove, program supervisor for drug court. "Primarily, what we're working through is helping them change the way that they think." Jon Dracup, an Arroyo Grande resident, said he could not have overcome his drug addiction without the program. "The obsession is gone," said the 45-year-old cabinet maker, "and I credit it in part to this program." The relationship the probationers develop with their assigned judge also helps keep the participants on track. "We give them that support, and they know we're watching and want them to succeed," said Judge Christopher Money. "We're unfortunately there to punish them if they don't succeed." A participant's slip-up could mean additional community work hours, more time in jail or expulsion from the program. "We've had some failures," Money said, "but we've had more successes than failures." According to an American University study, the recidivism rate for drug court participants is lower than for those who go through the traditional court system. Additionally, retention in programs nationally is high. Drug court was originally brought to this county two years ago by Money, who was initially skeptical about the program. "I had my doubts at first," he said. "I did not know why it was necessary to handle cases this way. But after doing it for a while, I'm absolutely convinced that it helps people overcome their addictions to illegal substances." After that original incarnation of the court, probation officials applied for the $384,000 grant, which enabled the county to run the current program for 18 months. The money was enough for two drug court probation officers, supplies for drug testing and an intensive drug treatment program. For the public, drug court means less money spent on each offender: The program costs about $2,000 per person for the entire program, while one year's incarceration in a California state prison is about $21,000. Prison was a likely option for the probationers had they not been chosen for the program, Joralemon said. "They were exhibiting patterns of behavior that lead us to believe that, if there hadn't been significant intervention, the chances of them going to prison were relatively high," he said. But funds for this round of drug court run out in December, and the county is now scrambling to find additional sources. "We have a full-time probation unit that seeks out funds," Joralemon said of the department's efforts. He added he is "optimistically hopeful" that funding from state sources will come through. If not, the program could begin and end with the current 75 drug court participants. Even if it does, the initial 18-month program was enough to change Rick De Jong's life. His health and personal relations have improved. And the muscular, goateed man has rediscovered an old passion he thought was long forgotten because of his drug use: surfing. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D