Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2008
Source: Gazette-Enterprise (TX)
Copyright: 2008 Seguin Gazette-Enterprise Inc.
Contact:  http://www.seguingazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3066
Author: Michael Cary
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

COUNTY MIGHT SET UP DRUG COURTS

COMAL COUNTY -- Thirty-four out of 1,618 Driving While 
Intoxicated/Driving Under the Influence misdemeanor violators had 
their probation revoked during the past 12 months.

A total of 42 out of 1,035 of those convicted of misdemeanor 
possession of marijuana or controlled substance had their probations 
revoked during the same time period.

Although those 76 probationers who were revoked were headed to state 
jail or would face some other punishment, there is hope that a hefty 
percentage of the other 2,653 violators would become eligible for a 
misdemeanor drug/DWI court in Guadalupe County.

With that hope in mind, County Attorney Elizabeth Murray-Kolb, County 
Court-at-law No. 1 Judge Linda Jones, two Guadalupe County probation 
officers and one counselor met last week with members of the Comal 
County Bar Association to discuss both counties' plans to set up drug courts.

Comal County has very recently set up a felony drug court, and 
Guadalupe County has operated a juvenile drug court, with Jones as 
the designated judge, for the past three years, and plans to install 
a misdemeanor drug court.

"By the time they (drug and DWI violators) get to the felony level, 
they've been drinking and drugging for a long time. With misdemeanor 
court we hope to catch them before they get to that stage," Murray-Kolb said.

"We're trying to get them when they're young and treat them before 
they get so far advanced in their addiction, and stop the cycle," she said.

Attorneys, judges and other officials listened carefully as Ernie 
Glenn, magistrate of Bexar County's felony drug court, explained how 
that county set up and operated its felony drug court.

He explained several key components of a drug court, as laid out by 
the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

According to information disseminated by the association, "drug 
courts represent the coordinated efforts of the judiciary, 
prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, 
social service and treatment communities to actively and forcefully 
intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction and crime."

Drug courts can identify substance abusers and place them under 
"strict court monitoring and community supervision, coupled with 
effective, long-term treatment services."

Glenn said there was a learning curve when Bexar County established 
its felony drug court three years ago.

"The easiest thing for me to do is to send people to jail. Did we 
accomplish anything by doing that? No we didn't," Glenn said.

"Drug court is not about motions to revoke probation, that's the last 
thing we do," he said.

He said just getting a drug offender started in a drug court program 
is a major accomplishment.

When a person begins to see the benefits of participating in a drug 
court program, their lives take a noticeable turn.

"You see a light turn on. They dress better, they go to work, they 
smile when they come to court," Glenn said.

Glenn said it is important to follow one of the recommended 
components, which is to maintain a non-adversarial approach.

"You promote public safety while protecting the defendant's due 
process rights," Glenn said.

That means a defense attorney would have to take steps before a 
defendant becomes a client to tell about the program and to get them 
enrolled as soon as possible for a successful intervention.

It's also important to maintain some continuity on the bench in a 
drug court, Glenn said.

"An ongoing judicial interaction with each participant is essential. 
Having one judge that the people can bond with is the best approach," he said.

Another important component of a drug court program is to forge 
community partnerships.

"They can be resources for you. If the community doesn't know what 
you're doing they can't support you," Glenn said.

Judge Jones said that officials from both Comal and Guadalupe 
counties will benefit through their collaboration on drug court programs.

"We will be able to network with neighboring counties and offer 
encouragement with what they're doing. The main thing we may be able 
to accomplish is to combine resources for training," Jones said.

"I see it as a long-term relationship. They may be dealing with 
people from our county and vice versa. We're trying to find a 
solution outside the box," she said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom