Pubdate: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Jason van Rassel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) COURT TEMPERS JUSTICE WITH COMPASSION Offenders Get Treatment Instead Of Jail When defendants show up even when they don't have to, you know you're in a different kind of courtroom. "James? Why are you here?" asks Judge Tari Eitzen, who presides over Spokane County's drug court. "I missed you," the young man calls out from his seat in the courtroom, provoking laughs from others in attendance. "I was hoping to talk to you when you're done." James hints things aren't going so well, but Eitzen stays positive, congratulating him and leading a round of applause at news he's approaching nine months of sobriety. There are 120 defendants on Eitzen's docket at any given time. All of them get a pocket calendar to write down court appearances, court-ordered urine tests and treatment appointments when they first arrive. At the front of the courtroom, there's a basket of stuffed animals for defendants' kids. Nearby, there's a "lending library" stocked with paperbacks donated by court staff, eager to encourage healthy habits such as reading. If defendants finish the program, they'll get applause, praise and encouragement from Eitzen along the way. When they graduate, she'll even give them a hug. There are consequences for those who slip, ranging from having to write an essay, picking up litter on a work crew, to spending time behind bars in a minimum-security facility. Jail is where many who are kicked out of drug court end up; when defendants are accepted into the program, they have already admitted the facts in their case and waived their trial. Flunking out is as good as a conviction. Eitzen is understanding when addicts relapse -- she urges one woman not to skip her urinalysis even if it means testing positive -- but slackers don't get a free ride. "Do you want treatment, or do you not want treatment? I'll give you a week to prove that to me," Eitzen tells one woman who has missed all but one appointment: a positive drug test. As she sends the defendant on her way with a new court date, Eitzen notices the woman has a young child with her. "Is that your baby?" she asks. "You owe it to her." Another defendant, a 21-year-old meth addict named Holly, appears before Eitzen after a month in custody -- and an attitude adjustment. "This is your fresh start. All your (work crew) hours are done, though it was sort of a hard way to do them," Eitzen says. Holly was in danger of being terminated from drug court and says she's grateful Eitzen gave her another chance. "(Getting terminated) would have put me in jail for three to six years. This was my wake-up call," she says outside court. "Judge Eitzen genuinely cares about people. This is like a saving grace. It's an unbelievable program, and I'm glad to be a part of it." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin