Pubdate: Sat, 21 Oct 2000
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer (OH)
Copyright: 2000 The Cincinnati Enquirer
Contact:  http://enquirer.com/editor/letters.html
Website: http://enquirer.com/today/
Author: Sheila McLaughlin

CRACKDOWN ON TEEN DRUGS, DRINKING URGED

Group Presses Police To Adopt Mandatory Referral

Teens who get caught with drugs or alcohol won't get any breaks if an idea 
being pitched in Warren and Hamilton counties takes hold.

Under a plan called mandatory referral, instead of some police officers 
sending the kids home to their parents for discipline, the youths would 
automatically end up a number in the criminal justice system.

They might not be arrested and charged; that would depend on the 
circumstances. But the teens would be ticketed to juvenile court to be 
assessed for substance abuse and other problems, then offered counseling or 
treatment.

It's a way, proponents say, to attack teen substance abuse as a way of 
reducing adult crime, which is linked 80 percent to 90 percent of the time 
to drug and alcohol abuse.

The uniform policy also would allow authorities, for the first time, to 
track youths so their history would be known should they get in trouble later.

The initiative is being promoted by the Coalition for a Drug Free Greater 
Cincinnati.

"If we can make an impact at this level, maybe we don't have to build jail 
cells later on at the adult level. We need to put our assets at the 
juvenile level," said Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver, who co-chairs 
the law enforcement committee for the drug coalition.

He unveiled the proposal Thursday to about 120 school officials, counselors 
and police officers in Warren County who gathered to discuss the 
development of a countywide approach to attack teen substance abuse. The 
half-day summit was hosted by Warren County Juvenile/Probate Judge Mike 
Powell, who announced that he will start a drug court for juveniles next year.

Mr. Oliver also is urging police to implement a mandatory arrest policy for 
adults who host teen parties where drugs and alcohol are present.

Those ideas got a mixed reception, especially from police, who questioned 
how the mandatory referral policy would work in the event of a teen party 
where dozens of youths are present. Some said it would involve too much 
manpower.

"I can see a severe problem there on making mandatory arrests or taking 
information from each child" to cite them, said Sgt. Jim Adams of the state 
patrol's Lebanon post. "Kids scatter like cockroaches when you turn the 
light on."

Mason Chief Ron Ferrell said he supports the idea. But, like others, he 
questioned the logistics of large parties and expressed concern over how 
such a policy would affect the public's perception of officers.

"Police departments already are accused of harassing kids," he said.

Lt. Col Richard Biehl, a Cincinnati assistant chief who co-chairs the drug 
coalition's law enforcement committee with Mr. Oliver, said he's hearing 
similar concerns in Hamilton County.

Only a handful of more than 40 police departments there already have 
mandatory referral policies in place for possessing alcohol, he said. 
Others are either taking the teens home to their parents or taking away the 
alcohol and sending them on their way, he said.

"I sense a reluctance to adopt this. Some have said we don't want to go 
there because we don't want to limit an officer's discretion," Lt. Biehl said.

"But very few parents, and very few law enforcement officers have the 
competency to do a formal enough assessment to determine if there is a true 
problem there."

Police chiefs associations in both counties have agreed to discuss the 
proposal, but neither Mr. Oliver nor Lt. Col. Biehl has received any 
guarantees.

Mr. Oliver is hoping they'll endorse the idea.

"Status quo is not an option," he said.
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