Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2008
Source: Craig Daily Press, The (CO)
Copyright: 2008 The Craig Daily Press
Contact: http://www.craigdailypress.com/site/feedback
Website: http://www.craigdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2334
Author: Joshua Roberts
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

COURTING ONE

Newly Installed Drug Court Seeks To Aid In Client Recovery

Craig -- The principal organizers of the long-awaited and newly 
installed Moffat County Drug Court agree on what would constitute a 
success: one client kicking a drug habit and turning around a life 
once on the brink of a prison sentence.

"One person," said Jessie Cramer, a Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse 
board member and Drug Court committee representative. "That would 
mean a lot to me, and it would to their family and their children."

"Just one," said Michael O'Hara, chief judge of the 14th Judicial 
District and Drug Court committee member and presiding judge, "is 
going to make this a success."

After years of planning, research and consideration, Moffat County 
launched its Drug Court, a program considered a "work in progress," 
Jan. 15. Four clients -- three women and one man -- have signed 
contracts with the specialized court designed to handle cases 
involving offenders with drug dependencies.

With a mission of breaking the cycle of addiction, Drug Court 
combines the judiciary, prosecution, law enforcement, probation and 
treatment communities.

Drug Court is a voluntary program for defendants with drug 
dependencies facing felony probation revocation. It requires 
mandatory drug testing, employment, court appearances and treatment, 
among other requirements.

The penalty for noncompliance could be prison.

"They have a pretty big carrot in front of them to succeed," O'Hara said.

The fifth Drug Court session was Tuesday. Two women -- a third 
currently is undergoing treatment in Grand Junction -- and a man 
appeared before the judge.

Results of the program, still in its infancy, are mixed. However, one 
of the women, a 28-year-old, has been successful in complying with 
all requirements. In that respect, the Drug Court is on pace to meet 
at least its minimum goal for success.

The 28-year-old is an example thus far of the success Drug Court 
hopes to have as it expands in coming years to work with more clients.

"You've been in the program since Jan. 15 and haven't had any 
significant problems," O'Hara told the woman, who replied to the 
judge that she is benefiting from treatment and is determined to succeed.

"Just (you) succeeding is inspiration for the other members, and it's 
inspiration for us, too," the judge said. "If you ever need anything, 
let these folks know. Let us help you help yourself."

Another client, a 21-year-old woman with a methamphetamine addiction, 
hasn't been as successful.

Her past two appearances have been marred by setbacks -- she has 
tested positive for marijuana and alcohol use.

Not all has been bleak for the 21-year-old -- she has found a job and 
has gone two-plus months without using methamphetamine -- but there 
are consequences for her latest, failed test.

O'Hara commended her run of being meth-free, but warned her against 
replacing the highly addictive narcotic with other substances.

"That (sobriety) isn't going to stay week after week if that stuff 
keeps happening," O'Hara said. The consequence for the failed test is 
96 hours in jail, a punishment O'Hara agrees to allow the woman to 
serve around her employment schedule.

"I do want to drive home the point ... I'm not going to work around 
your schedule again. ... I hand it to you for coming back. You're 
still worth the investment, still worth the risk to us."

But ...

"That's the last time I'm going to give you that opportunity. Next 
time, you should bring your toothbrush, as they say."

The movement for Moffat County's Drug Court began in 2005 when the 
local group, Communities Overcoming Meth Abuse, approached the courts 
and law enforcement with the idea as an answer to a growing area drug epidemic.

While exploring the idea, O'Hara said he found law enforcement and 
prosecutors warm to installing a drug court. The principal players in 
the Drug Court agreed that the past philosophy of "lock them up and 
send them away" wasn't working, O'Hara said.

"We were just seeing the same people over and over again," he said, 
"with no real success stories."

Two of Moffat County's top law enforcement officials -- Craig Police 
Chief Walt Vanatta and Moffat County Sheriff Tim Jantz -- endorse the program.

"The goal is at first to plug people in at an early enough stage 
where they can get their life turned around and become a productive 
member of society," Vanatta said. "Even if you save two of four, 
that's progress."

"One hundred percent, I support the Drug Court," Jantz said. "I think 
we need alternatives. Not everyone responds to the same stimulus in 
the same way."

A federal grant secured funds for a weeklong drug court training 
session in September 2006 in Los Angeles.

The Drug Court was launched at the beginning of the year with the 
understanding that, initially, it was a test balloon of sorts.

"We knew there would be things we would have to adjust over time, but 
we started it," O'Hara said.

The judge said the tentative idea is to use the Drug Court as an 
"experiment" in Moffat County, iron out the kinks and eventually 
expand it to the other two judicial district counties -- Routt and Grand.

A 15-member committee -- including O'Hara, 14th Judicial District 
chief probation officer Dennis Martinez and probation supervisor 
Annette Norton, Vanatta, 14th Judicial District Attorney Bonnie 
Roesink and others -- oversee the Drug Court.

The committee meets every quarter, and Drug Court takes place every other week.

Not just any defendant can be involved in the Drug Court program.

The probation department brings Drug Court candidates to the District 
Attorney's Office, which makes the decision whether to allow them 
into the program. Violent offenders are barred from entering.

And while many support Drug Court, not everyone is on board. The 14th 
Judicial District Public Defender's Office, for instance, has chosen 
not to participate.

Sheryl Uhlmann, deputy state public defender, could not be reached for comment.

Admittedly, O'Hara said the drug court comes with some hitches for 
defense attorneys, most notably the forfeiture of some due process rights.

As a former defense attorney, the judge said he understands the 
public defender's apprehension -- "you're taught you don't waive your 
client's rights" -- but that he hopes after the Drug Court is better 
established the office comes on board.

Drug Court clients aren't without representation, however. Three area 
attorneys -- David Waite, Erick Nordstrom and Heather Cannon -- have 
agreed to represent clients pro bono, if needed.

For organizers, the risk of Drug Court is minimal and the reward substantial.

"A lot of people have time in this, and we want to make it work," 
O'Hara said. "We're here to try and help. If it doesn't work, we 
didn't lose much. We lost a little time, that's all. We just hope 
there is a better way."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom