Pubdate: Tue, 20 Apr 2004
Source: Daily Egyptian (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2004 Daily Egyptian
Contact:  http://www.dailyegyptian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/779
Author: Bethany Krajelis

SALINE COUNTY FINDS UNIQUE WAY TO DEAL WITH METH

HARRISBURG - About 40 miles east of Carbondale, a rural county filled with 
rolling hills, endless farmland and nearly 25,000 people is dealing with 
the meth epidemic, but in a new way.

Not only do the statewide worries and concerns linger through the four 
communities of Saline County, but they also extend to the office and heart 
of Saline County Circuit Court Judge Brockton Lockwood. His office is the 
behind-the-scenes headquarters for the newly formed drug court in Saline 
County.

According to Lockwood, the drug court is his way of attempting to deal with 
the highly addictive and easily made drug known as meth. Holding up two 
large posters of a meth user's before-and-after picture, Lockwood sighed 
and explained his motivation for starting the drug court earlier this month.

"Users might feel good after taking meth, but it sucks the fat right out of 
your body and the calcium from your teeth," Lockwood said, pointing to the 
after picture of a once-attractive woman. "I decided we can't have these 
people on the streets to produce more users and endanger the public." 
Lockwood said the idea for a drug court stemmed from the rising number of 
meth-related arrests in Saline County and the entire Southern Illinois 
area. According to Saline County Assistant State's Attorney Lowell Tison, 
the first meth-related arrest occurred in 1999 and within four years, the 
number reached 200. This year, there have been more than 250 meth-related 
arrests in the county, which include meth possession and manufacturing 
arrests. He also said this number is extremely high for the county's low 
population. In addition, he said more than 50 percent of all felony cases 
in Saline County are meth-related.

Harrisburg, Eldorado, Galatia and Carrier Mills make up Saline County, 
which is nearly half the size of Jackson County.

According to Saline County Sheriff Ed Miller, the department employs eight 
road deputies and one deputy in charge of a private drug enforcement 
agency. Jackson County Sheriff Robert Burns said the population of Jackson 
County is close to 60,000. He also said the department employs 22 officers, 
and the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group handles the drug enforcement. 
According to reports from the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, there 
were 31 meth-related cases in Jackson County in 2002. The following year, 
the number nearly tripled. In addition, Jackson County officials reported 
20 meth lab seizures in 2002 and 64 the following year. Burns said the 
number of meth-related thefts, such as stolen anhydrous ammonia tanks or 
manufacturing ingredients, are not included in these numbers. He also said 
15 meth-related cases in Jackson County were referred to federal courts.

Lockwood said the drug court would provide repeat offenders a chance to 
stay out of prison and hopefully kick the habit.

According to Lockwood, first-time offenders are charged and sentenced to 
prison without the option of the drug court. Repeat offenders must prove to 
Lockwood they should be eligible for drug court, as he has the final 
decision. If offenders do convince the judge they are worth the effort and 
time of the system, they will serve 30 days in jail and then spend an 
additional 30 days in a treatment facility.

Once the 60 days are complete, Lockwood said the after-treatment begins, 
which is the main factor in drug court.

The judge said the after-treatment consists of 30 months of heavily 
supervised and restricted probation.

Those on probation are required to be drug tested three times a week, in 
addition to random tests.

Even though Lockwood believes drug testing will help keep user relapses 
down, he said the lack of money is a major concern.

According to Lockwood, drug tests cost $4.50 each, or $13.50 per week for 
each drug court participant. He said two local police departments have 
donated the drug tests to the program.

In addition, he said more staff is needed to help with the drug court. He 
is hoping the program will receive a $30,000 state grant, which he applied 
for. The judge said since the drug court is just getting started, he is 
unsure of how much money would be needed, but did say the amount needed is 
more than the department currently has.

According to Lockwood, there are four people currently in the drug court 
and an additional 160 prospects for the program.

Lockwood said within a one-week period, 14 of his 15 preliminary hearings 
involved meth.

"We've got it coming out of our ears here," Lockwood said. "We have a very 
disturbing circumstance."

Lockwood said other cases involving drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and 
heroin have been easier to deal with.

"We put them on probation and we never see them again," Lockwood said. "But 
meth is different. I don't know of a case in the past three years where the 
user has gotten off of meth."

According to Lockwood, if someone uses meth twice, they are seriously 
addicted. He said his goal of drug court is to provide the community with 
education on the dangers of meth and the potential legal issues that could 
follow. Lockwood said if the drug court participant remains clean of meth 
for 12 months, keeps employment and pays fines, they could be released 
early. Once participants finish the 30 days in jail, 30 days of treatment 
and the maximum of 30 months of probation, they will graduate from drug 
court. Lockwood said he attended one drug court graduation ceremony in 
Central Illinois for a former heroin addict.

"It was rather uplifting," Lockwood said. "There wasn't a dry eye in the 
house." Lockwood said he is inspired by the large amount of support the 
community has offered. He said in addition to Harrisburg High School 
raising money for the drug court, local business owners are offering jobs 
to drug court participants.

According to Lockwood, there are about one dozen drug courts in the state. 
He hopes they form in every community in Southern Illinois to battle the 
meth epidemic.

He said one of the main problems with enforcing meth is that most of the 
ingredients used in meth manufacturing are legal until they are combined. 
The judge said one woman was recently arrested on meth-related charges 
because of the items she was purchasing from a local drug store. "This 
woman asked for Sudafed and lithium batteries, and when the store clerk 
asked her what size of batteries she needed, she said it didn't matter," 
Lockwood said. "Obviously, this is a sign of meth production. Meth just 
makes you stupid."

Along with the worries and concerns Lockwood has for the community, he is 
dealing with meth on a personal level.

"This is the first time I have had friends who are addicted to meth. I 
don't normally know people who do drugs," Lockwood said. "We have to do 
something, so we are going to try this and hope for the best." 
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