Published: July 14, 2007 11:50 pm         

Drug court offers a way out of prison, way forward

For most participants in Garfield County Drug Court, the intensive treatment, evaluation and probation program is the last stop before prison.

“It’s not an out. It’s not an easy program,” said Judy Helberg, drug court coordinator, “but it does keep them out of prison.”





Statewide effort



The drug court in Garfield Count is one of 36 operational courts in the state, with six more in the planning stages. Statewide, there are about 4,000 participants in drug court programs.

In Garfield County there are about 55 participants in the adult drug court program and 12 in the juvenile program. A handful may graduate in a given year.

The program “is a court supervised comprehensive treatment program for non-violent” offenders, according to court papers given to participants. It is a voluntary program that requires participants to sign a contract and adhere to regulations of the court. Participants are subjected to the possibility of drug or alcohol testing at their homes or places of employment.

“Honesty is very important and we can’t help them if they’re not honest,” Helberg said. “We try to assess what we can do to help them.”





Just the particulars



Participants must pay $60 in fees per month — a $20 drug court program user fee and $40 supervision fee.

The program consists of regular court appearances before a drug court judge, a substance abuse treatment program, mandatory and regular drug testing and adherence to probation rules.

The program is offered to non-violent offenders who have been charged with drug or alcohol related offenses. The program is not offered to those who have been charged with dealing or manufacturing drugs, Helberg said.

The drug court has four parts. Three phases require participants to attend individual, group and 12-step program substance-abuse meetings, make regular court appearances, meet with a probation officer and call everyday into the court for random drug screenings. A fourth part includes after-care, which can include monthly meeting with substance abuse counselors and probation officers, monthly court appearances and occasional drug testing.

“It’s tough but it’s worth it,” Helberg said.





‘One big team’



The drug court program combines the efforts of the judge, district attorney’s office, drug court coordinator, substance abuse treatment providers, county sheriff, Oklahoma Indigent Defense and private attorneys.

“It’s just like one big team,” Helberg said. “We’re all just here to help these people.”

Before each drug court session, the team meets to discuss the progress of each participant who will appear that day.

Success of treatments and testing results, as well as the participant’s ability to meet all guidelines and make appointments with their probation officer, are discussed by each team member. Whether a participant is promoted through the program depends upon the number of days in the program and overall performance and testing.

“Staying clean and sober is great, but that’s not all of the drug court,” said John Wright, a treatment provider for Youth and Family Services and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor.

Wright and Mark Taylor, also a counselor with Youth and Family Services, meet with each participant in the drug court program and are part of the drug court team that attends staffing meetings before drug court.

As well as remaining sober, all participants must maintain employment or enrollment in an educational or vocational program.

In addition to making group and individual treatment meetings, participants also must make court appearances and meet with their probation officers as dictated by the court.

“I get a few calls if things aren’t going right,” said retired District Judge John Michael.

The judge donates about 12 to 15 hours each week to the drug court program, which he established while on the bench in Garfield County in 1999, for juvenile offenders.

“I like to see people make changes in their lives,” Michael said. “It’s a real reward. I just wanted to continue doing it.”

Like Michael, attorney Tim Beebe donates his time to the participants of the program.





When it’s all said and done



According to Department of Mental Health, those who complete the drug court program are less likely to be arrested again than those who go to prison or are given suspended sentences.

Those who serve a prison term will return there 54.3 percent of the time, while those on probation compile a 38.2 percent return, or recidivism, rate. Graduates of a drug court program have a recidivism rate of 23.5 percent.

Completion of the program can lead to dropped charges, but participants must spend a minimum of two years in the program.