Officials stake hopes on drug courts
Wednesday, May 11, 2005 1:15 PM PDT
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| Argus observer file photo
Two area law enforcement officers practice arrest techniques during a training session last year. Locally, the meth pacification effort continues but easy answers are hard to come by. |
Christen McCurdy Argus Observer
Ontario
Malheur County law enforcement officials are still working to combat the methamphetamine problem.
In fact, this week Malheur County District Attorney Dan Norris and others are in San Antonio in a training session regarding juvenile drug court. Malheur County Deputy District Attorney Denise Mowder said the Malheur County Juvenile Department has received a federal grant for a youth drug court and organizers are now looking at how they are going to implement the program.
Mowder said drug courts in general evolve as part of recognition that, with methamphetamine in particular, simply throwing people in prison over and over just does not work.
Officials also recognize it is important to intervene as early as possible and try to get young people with drug problems the help they need, Mowder said.
"We're realizing we need to get to kids younger," Mowder said. "It's a good step forward."
Mowder said organizers are now examining how the court will be set up, and whether it will address methamphetamine only or whether the court will also take on alcohol and marijuana cases.
"There's a lot of people, including me, who feel that once kids get used to putting something in their mouth, they're going to want to graduate to harder drugs," Mowder said.
Mowder added when she runs orientations for grand jurors, they go through a short workshop on the effects of methamphetamine. By the end of the time they spend serving on a grand jury, she said, many are shocked at how widespread the methamphetamine problem is and how great an effect it has on other crimes.
Mowder estimated the Malheur County District Attorney's office sees two to eight cases of possession of methamphetamine a week, and the rippling effect on violent crimes and property crimes is enormous.
"Every case kind of goes back to methamphetamine," Mowder said.
Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz echoed Mowder's sentiments. Bentz said the majority of property crimes and behavior crimes handled by the county can be traced to substance abuse.
"The vast majority of behavior crimes are still related to substance abuse, including alcohol," Bentz said.
He added he was optimistic the juvenile drug court would be successful, because of the success of adult drug court and its three-pronged model.
"The adult drug court has been quite successful," Bentz said. "They're getting the treatment they need, the employment they need."
One of the important elements of drug court is accountability, he said. Coupled with the availability of treatment and the possibility of both positive and negative reinforcement, it seems to work for a large number of those who participate in the program, he said.
Christen McCurdy is a reporter for the Argus Observer. She can be reached at (541) 889-5387 or by e-mail, ChristenM@argusobserver.com.
Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:
Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.
Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:
'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan
I have another quote that I would like to add
'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan
One last thought for the day:
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’
I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.
Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"