Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jun 2003
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
ing+program+may+be+expanded
Copyright: 2003 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.stltoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418
Source: Post-Dispatch (MO)
Author:  Tim Rowden
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

SPECIAL SENTENCING PROGRAM MAY BE EXPANDED

State Approves Additional Funding

County may expand sentencing program

An alternative sentencing program in Jefferson County could be expanded, 
now that the state has approved funding for a full-time drug court 
commissioner in the county.

The Legislature approved funding for the program last month.

Judge Timothy Patterson, who has presided over the drug court since the 
county started the alternative sentencing program in January 2002, says 
officials hope a full-time commissioner will allow them to expand the 
effort to include juvenile and family drug courts to address young 
offenders and situations in which parents have lost custody of their 
children because of drug or alcohol problems.

Patterson says a slightly altered version of the program also could be used 
to handle felony DWI offenders.

"There's an infinite amount of possibilities," Patterson said. "This is 
just one step forward."

The concept of an alternative drug court was introduced in Missouri with a 
program in Kansas City in 1993, says Ann Wilson, alcohol and drug abuse 
coordinator for the state court administrator's office. There are now 58 
adult, juvenile and family drug-court programs operating in the state, 
including two programs that target DWI offenders in St. Charles and Greene 
counties.

Wilson says more than 2,200 people have graduated from drug court programs 
across the state since their inception. She says only about 6 percent have 
committed new crimes.

"Prosecutors aren't seeing the same people, and neither are the judges," 
Wilson said. "Law enforcement is getting behind the program now because 
they're seeing changes on the street. They're not always arresting the same 
people."

The programs use a combination of intense supervision, treatment, praise 
and counseling to help offenders turn their lives around. Those who 
successfully complete the programs walk away drug-free without a record. 
Those who stumble face criminal prosecution.

"Drug courts are not the easy way out," Wilson says. "They really are 
tougher than probation and tougher than prison. There're some guys that 
would rather opt for prison than the drug court because they'd have to get 
clean."

In the case of DWI drug courts, Wilson says DWI offenders still receive a 
conviction but can avoid prison and hope to stay sober once they complete 
the program.

So far, three people have graduated from Jefferson County's drug court 
program. Eight are under supervision. Participants in the 12-15 month 
program have regular drug screenings and face jail time if they fail a drug 
test.

The punishment is swift and certain because participants are required to 
meet regularly with counselors and probation officers and the judges or 
commissioners who have their cases.

The supervision is more intense than standard probation. Patterson says 
that is one of the reasons the program works.

"Many of these people come from dysfunctional homes where there's never 
been a consistent authority figure," Patterson said. "They've never had 
someone who says, 'If you do something good, I'll reward you, and if you do 
something bad, I'll punish you,' and is consistent with the rewards and 
punishment."

For participants, finding that the drug court team is interested in them as 
a person often is a revelation.

"Somewhere along the line, they get it," Patterson said. "They realize that 
they have a problem and need help with some of the choices they're making."
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