Drug Courts Offer Addicts a Hard but Hopeful Way Out Yolanda Knox was 15 when she tried marijuana. Ten years later, she discovered crack cocaine. Her addictions led to a life of stealing and drug dealing -- and a stretch in state prison. "The money was good," the 41-year-old Kingston woman said recently, "but I was my own best customer. There weren't too many days I wasn't high or committing crimes." Two years ago, Knox was caught forging her sister's name on a fingerprint card after she was arrested for drug possession. The charge was her second felony -- an almost certain ticket back to prison for a woman who had four grandchildren. [continues 1547 words]
Man Stays Sober For 1 Year City of Poughkeepsie Judge Ronald McGaw doesn't serve cake in his courtroom very often. But the judge figured Richard Watson deserved a party. On Tuesday afternoon, he became the first person to graduate from Poughkeepsie Drug Treatment Court since the program began more than a year ago. ''You're a different person from the one I first saw here 14 months ago,'' McGaw told Watson during the celebration in the courtroom at city hall. ''We're all proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself.'' [continues 386 words]
When Dutchess County Family Court Judge Peter Forman was asked to oversee a new program designed to help drug-addicted parents become reunited with their children, he was more than a little skeptical. After six months of running Dutchess County's Family Treatment Court, Forman said he's convinced the new approach is working. Forman hosted an open house Monday in the Family Court building in Poughkeepsie to mark the program's first six months. Family Treatment Courts require those who have lost custody of their children to address their addiction with a team of attorneys, social workers and other specialists. When the parents meet all the requirements of a contract drawn up by the team, custody is restored. [continues 276 words]
The head of New York's court system didn't know much about drug treatment courts six years ago when Rochester City Court Judge John Schwartz launched a pilot project in his courtroom. Today, Chief Judge Judith Kaye is sold on the concept. "Every judge's ideas are worth looking at, and Schwartz was convinced this was a really good idea," Kaye said last week. Like most people who hear about drug court, Kaye said she was skeptical it would work, and feared many state residents would consider it "one more fuzzy program that coddles criminals." [continues 296 words]
Offenders Work with Legal Team William Dudley doesn't know how many crimes he's committed over the past 20 years. But the 35-year-old Kingston man says he's been sent to jail "at least 60 times." "I've been stealing for about half my life," Dudley said last week as he waited for his case to be called at Kingston City Court's temporary quarters at the state armory. "I've stolen watches, rings, cash, even food -- anything I thought I could trade for drugs," he said. [continues 2007 words]
