Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: Union, The (CA)
Contact:  2002 Nevada County Publishing Company
Website: http://www.theunion.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

COUNTY DRUG COURT NOW HURT BY NEW TREATMENT EFFORT

When California voters approved Proposition 36 in 2000, many probably 
assumed that there was too much emphasis on criminal prosecution of drug 
offenses and not enough of the kind of treatment and prevention called for 
in the initiative.

And, in some cases, they might have been right. But Nevada County appears 
to have been ahead of the curve and, oddly enough, that's causing us problems.

Nevada County Drug Court gives drug offenders the opportunity to avoid time 
behind bars and instead work on kicking their substance abuse problem. 
Rather than just treating the symptoms of this destructive addiction, this 
program went after the causes.

Sadly, the program faces uncertainty. There is only six months to go, and 
the Drug Court is losing clients and losing money because of the state 
fiscal crunch. Technically, the program has another six months left under a 
four-year state grant. Taking a longer view, the future remains uncertain.

One of the reasons Drug Court is having a tough go of it these days is the 
aforementioned Proposition 36, which as many will recall, requires 
treatment and probation for nonviolent drug offenders convicted of 
possession. Some of these folks now under the mandates for Proposition 36 
would have gone to Drug Court in the old days.

Drug Court offers treatment and, perhaps just as important, consequences 
for them. Clients faced short jail stints for failing drug tests or 
violating court rules. Court officials lauded the sanctions as a crucial 
element in helping drug abusers change their destructive ways. So now drug 
users under the mandates of Proposition 36 will head into treatment without 
some of the consequences of the drug court program. It remains to be seen 
how effective this approach may be.

Fortunately, the folks in Nevada County are still trying to stay ahead of 
the curve. Drug Court supporters hope they can tap into Proposition 36 
funds to sustain the program. That seems to make more sense than just 
starting a new program from scratch. The plan needs the blessings of the 
state. We all will be better off if the folks in Sacramento see the wisdom 
of this approach.
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MAP posted-by: Beth