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." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom