Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 Source: Daily Citizen, The (Dalton, GA) Copyright: Daily Citizen 2003 Contact: http://www.northwestgeorgia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1929 Author: Robert Delaney Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) IN SUPPORT OF DRUG COURT The main courtroom at the Whitfield County Courthouse was packed last Friday morning. As the judge spoke, a baby's cry could be heard throughout the room. The Judge, Jack Partain, smiled and said that in this courtroom, crying babies were okay, because this was not a traditional courtroom proceeding. He couldn't have been more correct. This event marked the one-year anniversary of the Conasauga Drug Court. This program is truly unique. It is a treatment program for first-time drug offenders who have had no prior felony convictions. It uses a team concept including the judge, district attorney's office, law enforcement, probation officer, drug court coordinator, treatment specialists and others. They all work together to try to rehabilitate, rather than punish, the offender. For years, we have heard tough talk on drug-related crime. For the most part, it has created an over-crowded court system and a parade of repeat offenders. Assistant District Attorney Mark Higgins, Jr. put it this way. "For people dealing with drug problems, it's my belief that the current system is doing a terrible job." In prison, there are no treatment programs and very little instruction on rehabilitation. This innovative program provides treatment, support and a way out. We heard example after example of people who have turned their life around because of the assistance from the drug court. Judge Partain, who presides over the program, stated that there was a 99% success rate with the 1,500 drug tests given to participants over the past year. He also pointed out that the participants had a combined 5,162 days "clean and sober". Many of the participants said this would have never been possible without the support of the drug court. The program helps the participants with more than just breaking their addiction. The participants also gain life skills through the training. All are encouraged to get at least their GED. During last Friday's program, one of the court participants, Nathan, was presented with his GED certificate to the applause of all. The team praises or punishes the team members according to how they are progressing. There is also a high degree of positive peer pressure. The participants hold bonds of friendship and pick each other up when needed. In many cases, this is the complete opposite of the support system these individuals have experienced in the past. What does all of this mean to the rest of us who don't have a drug problem? A lot! How can you put a price on reforming an addicted parent? How much will this person cost his or her employer in lost time and production? What will happen to this individual's children? How much will our tax system need to subsidize their existence? How can we break a family's cycle of dependency created from having an addicted parent? In addition to being the morally correct thing to do, all of the community benefits from addressing the perils of drug addiction. The cost of housing a prisoner in the Whitfield County Jail is somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 per year. This doesn't include the lack of productivity and possible damages caused by the affected individual. Add in court costs to prosecute, police manpower and time, plus general administration expense - all resulting in a great deal of our tax dollars invested in even a simple drug arrest. As is the case with any government program, its future success will come through continuation of funding. It may be more popular to simply call for tougher penalties for drug-related crime. The best decision in terms of dollars and cents, moral conscience and the salvation of lives and families is to invest in programs like drug court. My message to all those involved is "Keep up the good work! We're all pulling for you!" - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager