Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jun 2002
Source: Rutland Herald (VT)
Copyright: 2002 Rutland Herald
Contact:  http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/892
Author: Jane Emerson

LAWYER'S IGNORANT REMARKS

This letter is in response to the article titled "Marijuana: Man Jailed," 
which was published on May 31. My response after I read the article was 
"unbelievable." The Rutland Herald's comments by attorney Duckman in this 
article regarding his client I think are, at the very best, uninformed and 
unprofessional. Attorney Duckman says that his client was "smoking a little 
dope and drinking a little beer in violation of his condition of release." 
Unbelievable!

Duckman also said that "they don't have treatment for potheads ... We can 
arrange it, but we would have to look hard and wide to find one." Again 
unbelievable.

I can only wonder if attorney Duckman looked in the yellow pages under 
"treatment for potheads?" I also wonder why this public defender is 
defending a client with a history of substance abuse in obvious need of 
treatment, when he has zero knowledge of the disease and the treatment 
programs that are available.

Fortunately for attorney Duckman's client, Judge Corsones realized that a 
residential treatment program was in the best interest of the client.

While it may be true that there are only two residential treatment programs 
for drugs and alcohol in the state of Vermont, attorney Duckman would not 
have to look hard and wide to find one. Recovery House Inc. has been 
successfully treating addictions for more than 20 years. I think this 
attorney would be enlightened from a visit to either Grace House or 
Serenity House.

JANE EMERSON

Shrewsbury
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